OUR STORY

Andrea Salazar
2 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 7 hours ago

Five Years In: A Pancreas Mom’s Journey of Strength, Purpose, and Hope

This year marks a monumental chapter in my life — five years as a pancreas mom, and five years of discovering a strength I never knew I had.

When Type 1 diabetes entered our lives, it didn’t knock politely. It arrived suddenly, loudly, and without warning. What started as a diagnosis quickly became a mission: to protect fiercely, to love loudly, and to advocate relentlessly. With my incredible support system — my pack — beside me, I’ve learned how to face every high and low with courage, faith, and grit. We’ve turned fear into purpose, and pain into power.

This isn’t just our story. It’s a testament to resilience, and a promise that we will keep advocating, fighting and walking until a cure is found.

The Day Everything Changed

October 16, 2021 is a date forever etched in my heart.

In the weeks leading up to that day, something felt off. I began noticing changes in my child: weight fluctuations, constant thirst, changes in appetite, emotional swings. Like many parents, I assumed it was a growth spurt. But that quiet voice in my head wouldn’t stop whispering that something wasn’t right.

I shared my concerns with a friend, another mom who also happened to be a nurse. She listened carefully and didn’t hesitate. “Call the pediatrician,” she said. “Today.”

The very next day, we were in the doctor’s office.

A Lunch Date I’ll Never Forget

Before the appointment, we stopped at Panera Bread for lunch — one of those ordinary moments that life turns into something unforgettable. My child was excited about getting a cookie for dessert. Time wasn’t on our side, so I promised we’d have it after the appointment.

That cookie would quietly become a symbol of innocence — life just before it changed.

At the appointment, I explained the symptoms. The doctor performed a quick finger prick and stepped out of the room. When she returned, her face told me everything before her words did.

My child’s blood sugar was 556.

For context, a normal blood sugar for a toddler after eating is roughly 100–200.

I immediately broke down. My child looked at me, confused, scared, and unaware that our world had just shifted.

“Go Home and Pack a Bag”

The doctor told us to go home, pack at least three days of clothes, and head straight to the children’s emergency room.

... All my child cared about was the cookie.

I cried the entire drive home. We met Dad, packed quickly, and headed to the ER, our hearts pounding with fear and unanswered questions.

After hours of tests, doctors confirmed what I had already begun to fear: Type 1 diabetes.

Becoming a Pancreas Mom

That evening, I became something I never expected to be — a pancreas mom.

From that day forward, our lives filled with insulin shots, finger pricks, alarms, carb counting, sleepless nights, and a crash course in Type 1 diabetes. We’ve asked every question imaginable — Why? How? Why my child? Why us? — and we still don’t have all the answers.

What we do have is determination.

Yes, this journey has been hard. There have been moments of heartbreak, exhaustion, and fear. But there has also been growth, gratitude, community, and a purpose bigger than us.