Let me start by saying I do not have PKU. Three of my daughters have PKU…..you might wonder why I am writing this blog then. I am writing this blog to share with you how my three daughters have inspired me, and gave me a very different perspective on what many might see as a really cruddy diagnosis.
You see, earlier this year I was diagnosed with diabetes. At first when they told me I was going to have to modify my diet, and stick myself several times a day to check my blood sugar levels…..I thought…..are they kidding? I can remember thinking how sucky that was going to be, but then I remembered my amazing daughters. All three of them have shown me such strength in their lives. I watched all three of them every single day deal with a diet that was different than the rest of the family and their peers, and in general they all have been very positive. Yes, there were times when they might have said they were upset, and times when they really didn’t love having PKU, but in general all three have been my positive troopers.
Funny little side note…..my youngest didn’t even realize PKU was something to “hate” when she was a preteen. She only realized other people didn’t like their diagnosis and didn’t like having PKU when she went to a preteen event our clinic had for girls. It was at this event she heard all about how other people and families approached it, and she left so confused. I can still remember her asking me why the other girls hated having PKU so much. I couldn’t answer her. I couldn’t tell her, so she went to her sisters. I think before this event she saw PKU as being no different then the color of her eyes being different than some of her siblings (I have some kids with blue eyes, and some with brown…..just the way genetics happen).
So back to why I am writing this. As I was saying all three girls have been amazing, and so when I was told how I had to eat now they were my inspirations. Their diets are way more restrictive than mine, and if they can do it then so can I. The only challenge I had to figure out was how at every meal I was going to make a low protein meal, high protein/low carb meal for me, and regular food for the rest of the family. It presented a little bit of a challenge, but I decided to approach it how I approach their PKU diets. Start with the foods we like to eat, and make modifications to fit everyone’s needs. I know for some that might sound overwhelming, but it really wasn’t.
Then there were the finger sticks…..when I first started I hated it…..every single time I would cringe, but I went back to my girls. They have been poked and stuck their entire lives, and while each of them went through times when they fought it and didn’t like it all three have been so strong. I knew if they could do it so could I (yes they aren’t stuck several times a day, but I justified my thinking because when they get stuck we need more blood….their pokes are bigger, so no complaining from me on my tiny pokes).
The strange this is that I see my diagnosis as being one of the best things that could have happened to me. It put a lot of things into perspective. I now eat what is healthy for “me” just as my girls eat what is healthy for them. If they can do it, I know I can do it too!!!
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