back to the list of essays and poems BACK
This is one of the contributions to:DIABETES ESSAY AND POEM COMPETITION 2009
It all began when I came home for the Easter holidays when I was in year 5 which was in 2007. I came home from school feeling all lethargic and tired but as it was the end of the school term my mum just said I was worn out from school. But anyhow I was excited as I was going on holiday to Devon. So I went and got ready to go. So everything was starting to take place but little did I, we, know what all the symptoms meant. Now, back to the story!
We were in the car for the long four hour journey. We had already done two hours when I said I was really tired and I was desperate for the loo (this was the fourth time I had asked). So my dad pulled over at a station and I got out and went to do my business. Once I was back we set off again.
There we had some other symptoms that we had chosen to ignore. Uh oh.
Finally we arrived at the hotel in Devon after quite a few unscheduled stops. But we were there any way. This was the kind of hotel that runs all sorts of activities that you can sign up for, like football and cricket, so me and my brother went to have a look whilst my mum and dad checked in. Then with everything sorted we went up to our room. Soon it was time for diner so we all got ready and went down stairs. I had the usual. BUFFET. But really strangely I barely ate anything. I just wanted to drink glass after glass of water. Then my mum sensed that something was wrong so she took me back to the room for an early night.
So, things weren’t looking good but tomorrow was another day and once again I kept going. Football. That is what was in my head. I had just had breakfast and was on my way to football. I was really looking forward to it as it is my favourite thing. I played about half of the match but then I felt really worn out and tired so I pulled out and went back to find my mum. She said that maybe it was a lack of energy so she gave me a mars bar to eat. After that I didn’t do anything else that day.
I wasn’t having a good time. Every minute I was sat down not doing anything. Boring.
It was our last day in Devon before we went home and I was quite disappointed. I hadn’t done anything I wanted to do and I had not eaten much. But nothing could be helped, we were going home and that was that. With everything packed we checked out and left. As soon as we were in the car I fell asleep when normally I would be playing my ds or psp.
So, I was on my way home to see what further problems were to be held. But little did I know that things were about to get worse.
Home at last. All different things were in my head. Park, TV, bedroom.... SOFA. That’s what I did as soon as I got in. I crashed out and was about to fall asleep just as my mum told me that we were going to the doctors (hospital is what she meant) to have me checked. She was worried, just like me, but I didn’t want to show it. So I hauled myself along to the car, once again, and off we went.
So I was finally about to discover that my life had changed forever but I did not know what to expect! The hospital came into my sight. I was scared. What was wrong with me? Normally I would be at home unpacking my stuff. Not get in and then come out again within five minutes and I would especially not be on my way to the hospital normally. Once in we took a seat as I sat there feeling tired and waiting for my number to be called. It felt like we had been a year by the time it was called (but that was just because I was tired). So I went to see the doctor who did a few different tests and announced that I needed to be taken up to a ward straight away. A nurse guided me and my mum up to dolphin ward where I got given a bed. Then they had to put some needles in my hands and arms so that they could take blood samples whenever they wanted or give me insulin!
So it was all unfolding around me but I didn’t know what was wrong with me still. Let’s hear the rest. Very soon a nurse came to see me. Her name was Kay. She then explained what I had. Diabetes. She told me all about what was going on and the fact that some little changes would have to be made. Then she gave me some time to talk to my mum and dad.
So now I’m going to skip the night as I don’t think I should talk about how I slept so let’s go straight onto the next day.
I had been transferred to a different bed by lunch time and was starting to feel a bit more awake. I had my first meal since a while which proved I was beginning to feel better. I began to want to move about a bit more but was quite happy to sit there and watch the telly. Soon the ward teacher came to see me. He said that his job was to give fun little pieces of work to those who wanted it. I said I would have some to keep me occupied. So that was my first full day in a hospital. Now I was beginning to understand what it felt like. I was told that if I did an injection, I have to have them to get insulin in my body; all on my own then I would be able to go home. I said that I would do one at dinner time if my mum or dad did my lunch time one. They said that was fine. When lunch came then my dad stood up to do the injection. But suddenly he held it like he was about to throw a triple twenty on a dart board. I quickly asked my mum to do it. She was much better. Once dinner came I was feeling a bit worried. But I got through it and did my injection on my own. HOORAY. So within another day I was home at last. I had been given a week off school so that I could get back in the swing of things. I had a visit to see all my friends on the Friday which livened me up a lot. Then on Monday I was back at school in my classroom getting on with the start of my new life.
2009, 27th of April
...............Then on Monday I was back at school in my classroom getting on with the start of my new life.
So that is the story of how my life was changed forever. But to all those diabetics that get diagnosed every day I say “I’m a diabetic but I’m still me.
I just want to say a big thank you to all the staff that helped me and a big, big thank you to Kay. I couldn’t have made it without you.