Byrd family grateful for November miracles

November marks the month when we all take time out of our busy schedules to enjoy time with friends and family. November is also Diabetes awareness month, and Kelbi Byrd’s birthday month. This Thanksgiving, the Byrds have an extra blessing to be thankful for.

Kelbi was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on November 29, 2009. According to the ADA, “In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the sugars and starches you eat into a simple sugar called glucose, which it uses for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body.” Many times, those with this type can tell when their blood sugar is high, and then take a dose of insulin to combat it. In the six years since her diagnosis, Kelbi has lost the ability to feel when her blood sugar is high. Her A1C level has been almost double what the ADA suggests for diabetics for almost a year.

When Kelbi was diagnosed, there was no history of diabetes in her family, and it was only through a fortunate set of circumstances that her mother, Kristi, even thought to ask the doctor to test Kelbi for the disease. “I had been certified as an unlicensed Diabetic Care assistant in January of 2009, at the request of Martha Baker,” Mrs. Byrd says. Mrs. Baker was the school nurse at the time, and stated that each campus needed trained UDCAs, according to law. Continued high blood sugar can lead to vision loss, kidney failure, loss of limbs, and more. Kelbi has not experienced any of the major negative effects of diabetes, yet. According to her mother, those are not seen until later in life.

The Byrds began raising money for a Diabetic Alert dog that would assist Kelbi in monitoring her blood sugar. On Kelbi’s birthday, Nov. 12, she received a birthday gift that was a blessing and surprise. Two days before World Diabetes Awareness Day, Kelbi received a card that gave her the news she and her family had been waiting for. Thanks to fundraising efforts of her classmates and the community, her service dog has been paid for.

”Our family is very thankful for the support our community has given us. God has truly blessed our family,” said Kelbi’s mom, Kristi Byrd. According to Kristi, they should hear something in about four months, and will receive Kelbi’s dog in six to eight months.