Child Life On Call: Parents Of Children With An Illness Or Medical Condition Share Their Stories With A Child Life Specialist

 " It was like I was leaving home with a newborn because I had no idea what to do. We were in survival mode for those 3 days in the hospital. It was just nothing that I ever expected to be dealing with.'-Melanie Smith Melanie shares how she learned of her daughter's diagnosis of type 1 diabetes when her daughter was 18 months old. She so vulnerably shares their journey from diagnosis to life at home. This story is packed full of great insight to families navigating a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. [2:50] Melanie introduces her family [5:33 Noticing an excessive thirst in her daughter was the first symptom of diabetes [7:05] Malia's energy levels were depleted [8:55] Melanie made a list of concerns to tell her doctor [11:30] The pediatrician urges them to go the emergency room [13:04] Melanie shares the trauma that incurred for her [15:45] Advocating for Maliah to eat while hospitalized [17:36] Processing the news of her daughter being diabetic [19:17] Learning how to care for Maliah [21:30] Melanie shares