Juvenile Diabetes Type I

When Sydney Rogers was six years old her parents noticed that she had no energy. Her mother, Kim, said Sydney had no energy to run, play, or swim in the family’s pool. “She had been swimming since she was a baby and even when her friends and cousins were around she would just lie on the couch. Her daddy had to carry her everywhere we went on our trip to Chattanooga. She was just that weak.”

Sydney weighed only 40 pounds and had started to lose more weight. Her parents became very concerned and took her to the doctor. Once there, they checked her blood sugar and it was an alarming 325. They immediately sent her to Children’s.

“Sydney was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes Type I. The doctors, nurses and nutritionists taught us everything we needed to know about diabetes. They basically gave us a whirlwind education course about diabetes. We stayed there six days and when we left Sydney was able to do her own shots, and we had a better understanding of what life would be like with a diabetic child. We had to monitor her diet very carefully and educate every adult we left her with. This has been a life-changing experience for our entire family. Children’s not only saves lives, but they teach families how to live with diagnosis. They really care.”

Sydney is now 12-years-old and is on a diabetic pump. She leads a very normal life. She competes in pageants and has won every one she has entered. She also is an ambassador for the National Juvenile Diabetes Association. Her mom says she is very independent and has never let diabetes slow her down. “We are glad we had Children’s to teach us all the things we needed to help Sydney lead a life of freedom.”

“If we didn’t have Children’s Hospital I don’t know what we would do. I can call them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will help us with anything we ask for. They really do care about their patients.”