The Beginning

Firstly, my son's name isn't Tocky!! This is one of our nicknames for him! He is the most wonderful child you could ever know, so imagine how awful it was to find out our gorgeous one was poorly.

So it all started last year when he was 11 months old. We had signed him up for a block of  Baby Yoga classes at one of our local centres and his first class was on Saturday 2nd March 2013. My hubby and I looked forward to it as he was at work in the week and missed out on seeing Tocky doing classes (previously Baby Massage)

Tocky was not happy :( He was never a crying or moaning baby and we had no problems with him teething, sleeping, weaning, breastfeeding, etc... so we just put it down to him having an off day.

Sunday 3rd March 2013, we went to visit my sister and again, Tocky was not happy. He didn't want to play or eat or just be there at all. Again, we just put it down to him being tired as he was fine and seemed himself once home.

Monday 4th March 2013 - the worst day of my life but I didn't know it! Tocky was again moaning, clingy, sleepy, off food but he was teething at the time and I thought he had toothache. I gave him some paracetamol and he went down for a nap about 10:30am. We also thought he may be a little constipated as he hadn't done a poop since Saturday and was usually regular once or twice a day.

He woke around 12pm and seemed ok but not his usual chirpy self. He ate some lunch and then around 3pm, was moaning again. This time, I gave him some Gripe Water (and a capful for myself) for his possible tummy ache. He napped down again and woke around 5pm.

He looked quite peaky and off colour and when my husband came home from work, he said that Tocky looked unwell so we decided to take a trip to A & E at around 6pm.

After a 6 hour wait (yes 6 hours) we were finally seen and then moved to an assessment unit as it was initially thought he was just constipated and a doctor was needed to confirm this.

After a doctor had assessed him, a female doctor came and advised we should have his urine and blood checked as a precaution and we were happy for anything they could do - we just wanted our boy well.

The doctor came back and advised that Tocky was most likely in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) which can be fatal and advised they needed to push fluids as his body was dry internally and admit him as a matter of urgency. We were in shock! How could this happen so quickly? Whilst they went to fetch a drip, Tocky's breathing became laboured and his eyes rolled :( I called for help and doctors and nurses came rushing and pushed fluids manually as he was slipping into a diabetic coma. We couldn't believe it! There was no history in either of our families and Tocky had no symptoms including thirst and more nappy changes due to increased urination.

He was then transferred to HDU and stayed in hospital for a week. Hubby and I stayed with him and the poor little thing had so much done to him - bloods, bloods and more bloods!!! He had fingers, heels and toes pricked for blood, he had no spaces left!

We met the Diabetes Nurses, Dietician and Endos and they were all so lovely. Hubby and I had soooo much to learn! We actually decided to start doing finger pricks and injecting Tocky whilst he was still in hospital under the supervision of the nurses just to have confidence when we went home.

My in laws were so upset when they heard how ill their only grandson was. They were with us everyday and helped with bringing us food, clean washing, and whatever else we needed and more. So lucky to have them as in laws - I know many aren't so lucky!

Whilst in hospital, we were advised that Tocky would be best suited to have an insulin pump. We were told how it would work and we were happier than injecting him on a daily basis. We would attend a training session about a week after leaving hospital and would then be given a pump.

So, when Tocky was discharged, we were so scared as we didn't have that constant back up of nurses to help us. Technically though, we did as our Diabetes nurses were available 24/7 but it was still scary. After the first day, we felt a little better and each day got even better. Then the time came to learn everything about pumping. AARRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!! Only just got our heads around injections, ketones, correction dose, carb counting, etc....

Thursday 13th March 2013 - We attended Pump training with the Medtronic Trainer who also wore a pump - he was soooo lovely and easy to talk to. Tocky wore his pump for 1 week with just a saline solution for us to practice with and then we would return to clinic to have actual insulin in the pump. He was to return a week later - on his 1st birthday!! Wow - what a present!!!

Skip a few months and after using and getting used to the pump and meeting with the nurses and endo, we were told that Tocky had been approved for a sensor (CGM) Again, we were pleased but that meant MORE LEARNING!!!!!!!

July 2013, we had the sensor and it was brilliant!! We put all the settings into the pump as it works wireless with the sensor and alerts you when blood sugars are too high, too low, any errors, peaks and lows before and after food, etc... it was brilliant!! Poor Tocky now had 2 things on his bottom - infusion set and sensor but it never seemed to bother him, only us.

Next posting will be about he coped with situations after hospital - and it will probably be just as long!!!