The Fight with Type 1 Diabetes through the Eyes of Brandi’s Mother

“No child deserves to be sick.  No family deserves to have to watch their child suffer and not be able to help. Everything you do does matter.”  -Karen Cowan

My name is Karen Cowan and I am the mother of a child, Brandi Nichole, who was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age 10.  In the beginning it was not so bad.  Neither she nor I had a clear understanding of what had really happened or the toll that it would take on her life and mine.  My daughter was a very vibrant, creative 10 year old. Our lives changed as we began to meet with doctors and dieticians who gave us the list of can dos and cannot dos.  She struggled with having to check her blood sugar with a machine and then give herself a shot.  My greatest fear was that something would happen to her and I would not be there.  I tried to educate the people she was going to be around the best I could, but all I could do was pray that they would respond appropriately when needed.