Let's rewind a bit. Two years ago Tommy started camp just after starting HGH (human growth hormone), a new medication to help him grow. Tommy has always hung around the 10th percentile for height but since being diagnosed with diabetes he quickly fell off the curve. The medication was necessary for him to grow but it didn't not come without side effects. The biggest problem was its effect on his blood sugar, sending it very high, for weeks. No amount of insulin was bringing it down and it was a very difficult time for us mentally and him physically. During that time he started camp at our public school. I thought it was a great fit because the nurse would be at school. By day two he was needing to go to the nurse 5-9 times a day and camp is only 3 hours long. He wasn't having fun a felt different from the rest of the kids, the part I took the hardest. We have always shown Tommy he can accomplish anything with his disease but this time it had us beat. He withdrew from camp and never wanted to go back.
Now flash forward 2 years..he shows interest in camp and I signed him up! Now armed with a dexcom that displays his blood sugar and MUCH better numbers he enters camp. This year is different, he's older and understands much more about his disease. During camp he counted his own carbs, dosed himself for all snacks, and had someone call me when things were not right. I was SO impressed with him during those weeks. He loved camp and diabetes was very much an afterthought.
We did encounter a nervous nurse who called me a few times despite the fact that Tommy was out playing at gym. His weeks at camp couldn't have gone better!
Tommy is looking forward to camp next year and I'm so glad that we always look to the future. We take the lessons of an experience (good or bad) and just keep moving forward.
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