Keanu will live a long life

Keanu Alleyne is an average ten-year-old.

He enjoys sports–swimming and running are his favourite pastimes–and up until last Friday, led a relatively normal life.

That was when he complained to his mother, Laurel David, of feeling sick.

Two days later, David learnt her son had Type 1 diabetes, a condition which required that he receive insulin to regulate his blood sugar.

Now, torn between the shock of learning about her son’s diagnosis and his own fears that he may not win the battle, David said she takes life one day at time, confident they will overcome.

“In terms of him dying that is is not going to happen anytime soon. He has a long, productive and healthy life to live,” she said.

Keanu was among several children who Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh interacted with yesterday during a tour of the Just Because ward of the Wendy Fitzwilliam Paediatric Hospital, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope.

The ward, which specialises in oncology, also cares for children with other medical conditions.

During the visit, David recounted the moments which led to her son’s diagnosis.

She told reporters that after he complained about feeling unwell, she gave him something to eat and drink.

“But when we reached home in the afternoon, he threw up and started to complain of chest pains.”

David said she made her son take some shallow breaths and felt that would have been the end of his discomfort.

However, on Saturday, David said Keanu woke up complaining about body pain and dizziness. She also got a metallic scent on his breath and urine.

“So, I gave him a Schwepps soft drink and I noticed his energy perked up and in the perking up, I noticed that within 45 minutes he was back to feeling the same way and he asked for something to drink again and he got some sorrel and he perked up again. That is when I realised that it could be one thing only sugar.”

David took her son to the children's accident and emergency department of the EWMSC where his blood sugar was tested.

“The first test they took it was over 600. So because of my quick thinking and just having the right initiative, basically that is what saved his life.”

Saying she was still researching about the condition, David said she learnt from an endocrinologist during a lecture at the hospital on Christmas Day that young children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes can lead normal, healthy lives.

“But because this is new to me, I think I am more on the panicking side because he does swimming and my thoughts were like, ‘Next thing he goes swimming and he sinks to the bottom of the pool. No one can notice he is there and he dies.’”

David said she was still in the learning phase of coping with her son’s illness.

“It is only four days we found out about it and we working with it as we go along."

David said though, the fact that her family has no history of diabetes has had her even more bewildered.

“So, basically, we taking it one day at a time.”

To compound matters, she said Keanu, the last of her three children, also blamed himself for the illness and believes he is going to die.

“I try to encourage him and say, ‘No,’ it is not anything that he did wrong or something that we did wrong. It is just something that came up and I explained to him that it happens in children at his age."

David believes Keanu will lead a normal life.

“It is just that I know certain things will be limited with him but I will continue to encourage him to do what he wants to do.”

David thanked the medical staff at the hospital for their support, dedication and encouragement.

“They with you around the clock. Anything you ask, they teach you. They guide you.”

She said administering the insulin treatment to her young son, though, was somewhat challenging.

“It is a bit tedious but I am learning.”