Lauren’s story

Well folks, one week and two days ago we brought Lauren home from Children’s Hospital in Seattle.  When we left, we were feeling pretty overwhelmed and unprepaired for insulin shots, taking blood sugar counts, and counting carbs, but God is faithful. 

I feel like I should back up a little and tell her story both for the sake of our friends that haven’t heard it as well as for our own record.  I never want to forget to tell others how God met us and carried us during this trying time.

On July 6, Lauren was celebrating her 11th birthday with friends at home.  It was a happy day.  Her friend from Orting, Baylie Powers stayed with us for a few days and everything seemed great.  On Monday July 9, we took Baylie home and continued on our way to Lincoln City OR, for an interview.  It was that day that Lauren started complaining about having some pain in her lower back. This pain was off and on until our return on Wednesday.  The next day, she said that the pain had moved to her lower stomach area.  By Friday, she was having symptoms of nausea and vomiting. (By this time you are asking yourself the question, “Why didn’t they take her to the Dr.?”  The answer is summed up in two words, No insurance, or Cheap Skate.)  Anyway, Friday night Lauren found herself having difficulty catching her breath and had a very rough night.  Since there was no improvement in sight,  we finally decided to take her to the clinic Saturday morning.  We were the first ones to arrive, so they were able to get her right in.  When they weighed her, we noticed that she had lost about 20 lbs.  The Doc took a blood sample right away and said that her blood sugar count was in the mid 500s.  He told us that she had diabetes and said that we needed to get to emergency right away.  He wanted to call for an ambulance, but I (John) told him that because we didn’t have ins. that I could drive her.  When we got to the hospital, the Doc had called ahead so they were ready for us and immediately put Lauren on insulin through an I.V., and oxygen.  When the Skagit Hospital Dr. came in to see her, she told us within seconds that Lauren needed to go to Children’s Hospital where she could have constant attention.  Since it was difficult to find an ambulance driver who was familiar with the insulin drip, they offered to air lift her.  I (John again) told them to look harder to find a driver.  They did find one, but by the time Children’s received Lauren’s chart via fax, they insisted that she be flown as quickly as possible.  We couldn’t go with her, so by the time we got there she was already being cared for.  They told us that she was very sick and that there had been some swelling in her brain so they would have to keep a close eye on her because the next 24 hours would tell them a lot about how she would come out of this.  She spent the rest of the day Saturday and all of Sunday in intensive care, and by late Sunday night was moved out of ICU.  I know that this has been a long entry, but it was like our lives were moving in slow motion.  Our little girl was straining to breathe, she was cold, and her eyes were rolling around in her head.  It was probably the scariest thing we’ve ever experiended.

The next few days were filled with being educated about diebetes and how to treat it.  Lauren has type 1 which means that her body just doesn’t produce insulin anymore.

 I can say without question that God has shown Himself faithful.  He always does.  He has given us strength to walk this road.  He has blessed us with a tough little girl who has become our hero and role model for courage.  Three days after coming home she started doing her own insulin shots and finger pokes to test her blood sugar.  Phil. 4:13 says, I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.  We are praying that Lauren will be a testimony and encouragement to others like her, and that this speed bump will actually be a platform for her to share her faith in Jesus.   

We have been blessed with so many wonderful family members and friends.  Many have visited and/or sent  cards or called or emailed…thanks.