Sophie's Story

Growing up in a family with two diabetic parents, my brother and I learned the cold, hard facts of the disease. One of my clearest memories is a memory of my mother, unconscious on the ground at the zoo on a school field trip, she was there as a parent volunteer. The lack of understanding of diabetes led other adults to try to force food down her throat; a horrifying image for a second grader.

I remember being scared to be alone around my mom, afraid that I wouldn’t be able to save her. That she might die from her next low, I didn’t understand, all I knew was when she started to feel shaky I had to find an adult to help me, they would call an ambulance and they would take her to the hospital.

When I was in college my mom got really sick, I was away at school and her health was rapidly deteriorating. She was losing her eyesight, she was retaining fluids, she was going into renal failure. After a trip to the Mayo Clinic it was determined that the only thing that would save her was a kidney transplant. She was placed on a waiting list at Fairview University Hospital. On December 3, 1998 she received a kidney and pancreas transplant from a cadavearic donor. She has been insulin free since.

Shortly after my mother’s transplant, my father suffered a massive heart attack. Because his diabetic neuropathy is so bad, he didn’t even feel the attack. He underwent a triple bypass and valve repair. This was only the beginning of what was in store for my father.

He began having issues with his feet, infections that wouldn’t heal; hours and hours in a hyperbaric chamber. Wound vacs and other failed attempts to save his foot, lead to a leg amputation. He has also had one toe amputated on the other side.

Because my father has had diabetes for so long, he can no longer feel lows coming on. He doesn’t posses the normal symptoms that a “healthy” diabetic experiences. This lack of sensation has caused two car accidents and my father can no longer drive a car alone. Because my mother is legally blind, this really hinders their independence.

On September 21st, 2004 I took my beautiful three year old to see her pediatrician due to symptoms of a vaginal infection. I knew something was terribly wrong when both the doctor and nurse entered the room with solemn faces. The first thing the doctor said was “Is there a history of diabetes in your family?” You can imagine my terror as I processed what she was saying.

Later that night, I took my diabetic daughter home and she began her life as an insulin depende`nt child. What can I say? It’s a horrible disease, it’s ugly, it’s uncontrollable and it’s just not fair that my baby has it, but what can we do? My whole family was in a state of disbelief and really went through some grief. My mom took it the hardest, she still does.

I guess we came to a place where we had to find light in a dark place. We signed up to participate in the walk, which was taking place a few weeks later, something we had done in the past, for my mom and dad. It was different now, it was her, it was Steppin’ for Sophie. I have also participated in the Ride to Cure Diabetes in Death Valley last year and plan to ride in two rides this year. My mom and brother will be joining me in Death Valley.

Sophie is five now. She has been on the pump for almost a year. She likes her life on the pump better but still hates the disease. Every time I change her pump she screams and cries and repeats over and over “I don’t want to be diabetic.” I don’t want her to be diabetic either, I don’t want anyone to be.

Sophie enjoys American Girl dolls, horses and clothes. She loves to talk about her diabetes and she looks forward to the walk every year where she can be in the spotlight for a day and none of the kids ask her what he has in her pouch, they all know. She is looking forward to a summer at the beach and kindergarten next year.

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