A PURPOSE DRIVEN LEMONADE STAND!
Our Back Story from Mom
My Name is Kenyea, Mommy of Kennedi (Lil Sis), and God Mommy of Dana (Big Sis).
On July 26, 2021, our lives changed forever. Kennedi, my vibrant and joyful 22-month-old, was taken to Children’s Hospital for what we initially thought were symptoms of the common stomach virus. She had a fever, showed signs of weakness and fatigue, she had stomach pains, and was experiencing extreme vomiting. I never could have imagined the devastating news that awaited us.
After several test and medical procedures, we anxiously awaited her results. When her doctor finally came in, we heard the horrifying words that still echo in my head to this day:
“Here’s what we are looking at... your daughter is going to need insulin for the rest of her life.” My heart sank. My less than 2-year-old baby had tested positive for type 1 diabetes. Worse yet, she was in a life-threatening stage of Diabetic Ketoacidosis, also known as DKA.
For those unfamiliar, Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a serious condition that occurs when the body starts breaking down fats at an alarming rate. The liver processes the fat into fuel called ketones, which causes the blood to become acidic. If not treated promptly, DKA can lead to severe complications such as cerebral edema, coma, or even death. We were told that Kennedi’s blood sugar levels were dangerously high and that her little body was struggling to stay alive. Had we not brought her to the ER when we did, we would’ve had a different outcome.
In that moment I was in shock. It was as if everything around me became a cloudy dream, the doctors voice and back round chatter became distant. I felt numb. This is something no parent should ever have to endure. My mind raced with questions: How did this happen? What did I do wrong? Was there anything I could’ve done to prevent this? Why my baby? Why Me?
Over the next 5 days Kennedi remained in the hospital receiving treatments to get her blood sugar under control. We also had to attend a two-part, two-day diabetes educational class before she could be discharged. This was by far the most overwhelming week of my life. This was a lot to process and in so little time. We were literally taking a class to learn how to keep our baby alive!
Type 1 diabetes also known as T1D, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is an autoimmune disease. In this condition, the immune system mistakenly destroys insulin making cells (called beta cells) in the pancreas. That means the body can’t make enough insulin or any at all. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. Without sufficient insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to high blood sugar levels. Over time, elevated blood sugar can cause a range of serious complications, including heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, and other organ and tissue damage.
Management of type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin therapy, either through injections or an insulin pump. People with T1D must carefully monitor their blood sugar levels
throughout the day and adjust their insulin doses accordingly. Along with insulin therapy, maintaining a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and routine medical check-ups are crucial for managing the disease and preventing complications.
The cause of T1D is commonly referred to as “The Perfect Storm”. There are three basic ingredients that are required for a thunderstorm to form: moisture, rising unstable air (air that keeps rising when given a push), and a lifting mechanism to provide the push. T1D is similar, different factors play a role in the cause, such as genetics, viruses, and the environment thus causing the perfect storm, T1D. With that in mind, we want to form a non-profit called The Perfect Rainbow: Support, Education and Resources to weather the perfect storm! We want to help other families that are challenged by this horrible disease by bringing awareness and support to the frontlines. Your donations and purchase of our great tasting fresh lemonade and other products will help support our mission and continue being "The Ultimate Lemonade Stand"