I read on
Caramaena's blog that today is World Diabetes Day so before I rush off (to help with the Grade One Swim Class) I would like to tell you about my nephew.
He was 20 months old when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. A baby. He is now days away from turning 6. And diabetes is such a big part of his life. Bron goes through different issues with him now. It used to be holding the screaming toddler down to stab his poor behind with a needle. These days he is really brave about the injections but he doesn't want to have them in front of any friends because they might laugh at his bare bottom. He's had behavioural issues and this has made his first year of school challenging. Fortunately he has an excellent teacher who has been working with him really well and helping Bron wade her way through the bureaucracy of getting help from government departments. Even so, his first report card made Bron and I weak with rueful but hilarious laughter. He's terrific but he can be a ratbag. We call him Whelan the Wrecker sometimes. He's a natural dismantler of things, he
will put the coin in the car CD player (ask my Mum), he
will take apart your expensive household appliances in the blink of an eye. But he is so feisty and full of life and courage, he will laugh if the bubbler gets water all over his face instead of in his mouth, he will stand up to kids who give him a hard time, he will hug you hard and talk your ear off and take an intense interest in what's going on. I hope we can find a cure for diabetes in his lifetime but if we can't then at least I know he will fight it and that Bron will be there doing all she can to manage and contain and live life as well as she can with this bloody awful disease hanging over their heads.
I hope you are right and that they find a cure as well. I have a friend whose has two little boys with diabetes and it's a shit of a disease. Your nephew is a brave boy :)
ReplyDeleteBTW - I'm looking for a tapdancing class in Sydney for my three year old. Do you know of any good ones? And is three too young??
Aw, he is gorgeous. All best wishes to him!
ReplyDeleteHe is gorgeous. I too hope they find a cure, and soon!
ReplyDeleteI love that your description of him is so much bigger than diabetes. How scary for your poor sister when he was diagnosed at such a young age. We are so lucky to live in this day and age of modern medicine, lets hope for a true cure very soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this Stomper. I think it is one of those diseases where people don't fully understand the implications and how fraught it can be.
ReplyDeleteHe is very beautiful.
Gorgeous boy, Stomper. And brave.
ReplyDeleteSounds like he has the heart of a warrior!
I approve of the appliance dismantling. Sounds like his spirit is greater than the illness, and may that continue to be the case.
ReplyDeletehe is lovely, and reminds me of someone not that far away from me, oh yes the FB. Destroyer of CD players etc etc etc.
ReplyDeleteI hope they find a cure to diabetes, though he is very brave to deal with the injections so well.
Gorgeous photo!! He looks like a brave little fighter. Thanks for sharing this Stopmer.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, cute kid. Diabetes is a terrible disease, I hope they do find a cure soon.
ReplyDeleteI love him to bits, and dote upon him, but was seriously cross when he put the coin into the car's CD player. The whole thing had to be replaced! But of course, why would he not think you could put a coin into it? Coins go into parking meters! He was only three and a half, and the coin did go in, after all! It just meant that I had to drive the whole way home to Sydney without music. But I don't hold it against him!
ReplyDeleteHe is beeyootiful! Sounds like a take charge kind of guy. I too hope they find a cure so he will live an easier life in the years to come. But I think he sounds like a lot of fun. He's going to be one of those brilliant types who instigates big change and puts out big ideas taht will change our worlds.
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing picture of a brave little boy. My heart breaks for anyone dealing with this disease, but especially children. May they find a cure soon.
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note, I am running a contest at http://sayanything.typepad.com come by and play if you have time!
My Dad and husband are both diabetic but it was adult onset not during childhood. There's a whole other world of youthful diabetics and few people understand the hoops you have to jump through.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
I hope they find a cure.
ReplyDeleteI have rellies that have developed type 2 & am living in fear of getting it myself.
He is a beautiful looking boy.
He is just gorgeous and is going to be a heartbreaker when he's older!
ReplyDeleteI had to have insulin injections when I was pregnant and I found that hard enough to deal with. Your sister and nephew must both be very strong people to have to deal with it all day, every day. Kudos to them both :)
That is a lovely tribute to your nephew. Kids are so brave about these things. Here's to finding a cure soonest.
ReplyDeletemy husband is also a type 1 diabetic... ahh the struggle. What a brave little boy.
ReplyDeleteJust an update for you sis - your delightful nephew got SENT HOME from school yesterday morning, for hitting one of the kids, AGAIN, ANNNNNNDDDDD he hit his teacher! Not bad for a just turned 6 kindergarten child. Not sure if it counts as a suspension or not... Personally I thought it was the wrong approach, seeing as it could produce a 'here's a good way to get a day off school, be awful, get sent home' mentality, plus it means I have to deal with a discipline problem the school should deal with. So had to spend the entire day trying to make his life utterly wretched, so that he WOULDN'T.DO.IT.AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! All birthday presents - gone. No TV. No touching the puppies. LOTS of time in the naughty room (Jessie kept wanting to go with him). Think he should have gotten the kick up the backside he deserved at school. Touch wood I have heard nothing today, so I am hopeful he hasn't been expelled. Sometimes I think they should bring back the cane! Never did us any harm! Anyway, if my horse bucked me off, would I put her back in her paddock as a reward, hell no, unless I was being dragged away in ambulance. Was v. cross..... His sugars were low, too, by the way.... Love Bron
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