About Me

My name is Daniela Costa and I am a Scrapbook Designer and Educator. I am currently a Design Team member for Authentique Paper, Alpha Stamps and Lynda Kanase Designs. I do guest spots and special events for lots of fun companies! I provide Scrapbooking and Mixed Media classes in the Northern California Bay Area. I do commission and private classes as well. Just contact me

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

48 Hours Can Change Your Life



As a mother of two, you always are thankful that your children are healthy, happy and thriving. A little over a year ago, my beautiful daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes. She had never been sick, and never even had her blood drawn. Even after her diagnosis, she was thriving and incorporating the disease into her daily life, and things have been just great. Last week, she came down with a flu. This was your typical throwing up, not feeling good, 48 hour typical flu. By Sunday, she hadn't eaten much and I thought she should be seen on Monday. By Monday, Bianca couldn't even walk. I got her to the hospital, and they immediately whisked us off to the ER. A normal sugar reading for a healthy diabetic is 120. By this time Bianca's sugar was up to 420! This was with no food, no drink other than water, how does that happen? In the ER, they kept trying to get IV's in her, but she was so dehydrated and sick they couldn't get them in. They also started taking PINTS of blood. As a mother, it is the worst thing in the world to see your child in pain, and then to put your trust in the doctors and nurses, when they seem to be hurting your child. Within a few hours, they did get an IV in and had given her doeses of pain medication, this was the only reprieve she had. Her lips were completely white, and frankly she looked like a cadaver. Never in my life have I felt so scared, alone, guilty, helpless. We spent 8 hours in the ER, and finally she was stable enough to move to ICU. She was on an Insulin Drip, Antibiotics, Electrolytes, and had gone through 4 liters of intreveneous fluids during this time. By the time Aaron got there later in the day wit Tony, I lost it. I was tired of being strong, and tired of telling her it was going to be ok. I had to let it all out. By this time, Bianca was resting and didn't see me "lose" it thank goodness, but my little Tony did and was a little scared. By the end of the night, Bianca had 3 IV's in ONE ARM, was exausted but looked so much better.
Its a weird thing, having a connection so close as your child. By that time, (and this gets weird) both my arms on the insides and down to my wrists (where they kept poking her for blood) we sore and I felt like I had been working out my arms and they felt like rubber. If you touched the insides of my arms, it hurt and I truly felt my daughters pain. Strange, but so true.
Yesterday, the doctors told me that her white blood cell counts were almost back to normal which was miraculous. He couldn't understand how fast the meds were working. By the end of yesterday, they gave Bianca food, she was sitting up, and now it was time to get her fluid levels back to normal. By this morning, she was almost back to normal levels and she is coming home! It is a miracle and blessing that everything happened so fast. I believe in the power of prayer, thoughts and positive thinking. Even if you took a minute out of your day and thought good thoughts for Bianca, they worked. The Doctors and Nurses at Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek were fantastic and I can't thank each and every one of them enough for their help and care during the past 48 hours.
This has taught me alot about how fragile this disease makes my daughter and that a little flu can turn deadly very quickly if not addressed immediately.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the family and friends that were there for us.

6 comments:

  1. oMG!!! So, so happy to hear she's doing ok now! I couldn't imagine what you must have been going through and yes, we moms, can lose it esp. when it comes to our babies! Thank god she's ok!
    Sending you lots of love and hugs your way!
    Robin Boeder

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey sweetie! I am so glad to hear Bianca is feeling better. Positive thinking is huge and makes a world of difference. Do me a favor... don't forget to take care of yourself, In times of stress, we neglect ourselves and that won't help your kids! Lots of love, d-

    ReplyDelete
  3. How terrifying for the both of you! I am so glad that things worked out so well, so quickly. I know what it's like to have a child with a chronic illness, and it's nit easy, but hang in there!!

    Hugs!
    Casey

    ReplyDelete
  4. love and hugs to bianca the coolest chic ever! Take Diana's advice take of yourself too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank goodness she's better and able to come home. I know that feeling of pain for your "baby" and understand. I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy to hear its all better now... prayers for continued health and a fantastic start to college...

    ReplyDelete

Pages