[Transient Neonatal Diabetes]
families
OUR
Earlier this year, one of our fabulous photographers, Michelle Heron of Belly 2 Bebe Photography met with Mckaela and her parents.
Mckaela was just 5 months old at the time of her session and it was really only a short time before that he was diagnosed with something that would forever change their lives.
At six and half weeks old, Mckaela was admitted to Sick Kids Hospital with a blood glucose level of 60mmol/l and she was in severe Ketoacidosis (a metabolic state associated with high concentrations of ketone bodies, formed by the breakdown of fatty acids and the deamination of amino acids). Once admitted she had to have an arterial line put in her femoral artery which in turn, caused her blood to form a clot.
After spending a week in the Paediatric Intensive Care unit at Sick Kids, McKaela was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (just like her Dad and Grandpa had). Mckaela's mom, Stephanie, learned how to give her insulin shots, test her blood sugar and also learned how to give her the blood thinner injections she would need to treat the blood clot from the arterial line.
One month after McKaela was diagnosed, her family learned that she in fact has an incredibly rare form of Genetic Diabetes that can be treated with oral medication. They were able to stop the insulin injections and now they have to test her blood sugar every 4-6 hours and she receives the oral medication once a day.
The hardest part for Stephanie has been looking back at Mckaela before her diagnosis and knowing something wasn't quite right. The best part has been the people they have met along their journey - they've been able to network with others who have this same rare disease. Seeing how strong Mckaela is has been amazing for their family - despite everything Mckaela is happy and always full of smiles and giggles.
MCKAELA