Gregory Doucet
It was not until a routine visit to the paediatrician at a year-and-a-half old that led to the diagnosis that changed everything.
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At 11 years old, Raynham was thirsty all the time and losing a lot of weight. She was treated with antibiotics, as it was assumed that she was suffering from some sort of persistent infection. Then one day, she fell into a coma. She was rushed to McMaster Children’s Hospital as her brain was swelling and her body systems were shutting down due to complications from type 1 diabetes. She was at high risk of suffering a stroke and having permanent brain damage if she survived at all.
Her skyrocketing blood-sugar levels were brought down and she slowly regained consciousness. On the third day, the swelling in her brain began to subside. Luckily, there were no signs of brain damage. Raynham had lost a lot of muscle, her joints were weakened and her gastrointestinal tract was damaged. She worked closely with Child Life Specialists and psychotherapists to help her overcome anxiety from the ordeal, and she began a modified diet that was designed to keep her blood sugars normalized and help her regain muscle. A glucose-monitoring device was implanted beneath her skin to measure her blood sugar levels every five minutes. An insulin pump tube is also inserted under her skin and it delivers insulin continuously. However, Raynham must carry the pump at all times and make decisions about dosage based on her level of activity and what she eats. Today, Raynham is thriving and enjoying the life of a normal teenager.
