All the Days of Her Life by Lurlene McDaniel

Author:Lurlene McDaniel
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307776389
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2010-10-26T13:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

LACEY GAZED UP at the faces of the team of diabetes professionals surrounding her bed, and although her uncle introduced each member, she barely paid attention. A young woman named Sue, a dietician, said, “You know, learning to eat right doesn’t mean giving up all the things you love and never tasting them again. It simply means planning. You can eat practically anything you want, just so long as you plan for it.”

Of course, Lacey knew that much. “I don’t have much of an appetite now,” she said. “And I’m not interested in gaining back all the weight I lost.”

“You don’t have to gain back most of it,” Sue said. “But when a patient goes DKA, she loses more than unwanted pounds. She loses muscle mass and vital nutrients. We’ve got to put those back, and naturally, weight gain will happen. But it’s a healthy weight gain. We’ll design an exercise program for you.”

“I hate exercise.”

“Me too,” Sue said with a smile. “But everybody needs it. Even people without diabetes. You don’t have to be a jock, but you do need an exercise routine.”

Lacey thought of Katie, athletic to the core. The memory of their fight the night before caused fresh pain. She flashed Sue a hostile look. The woman was young and tall, slim and fit. Her hair was dark brown and hung in a French braid, her eyes brown and lively. “And I suppose you’re on the hospital’s softball team, bowling team, golf team, and every other team they have. How would you know what it’s like to have to stop in the middle of everything that’s happening and give yourself a stupid insulin shot? I’ve always had to sneak off at sleepovers and play rehearsals and measure out my insulin. What fun.”

“I know what you mean because I’ve done it for years,” Sue said. “I’ve been a diabetic since I was fifteen.”

The news stopped Lacey’s sarcastic tirade cold.

Uncle Nelson intervened. “You’ll see everybody again this afternoon. Along with a private session with Dr. Rosenberg. But for right now, I want to take you for a little ride.” He pulled a wheelchair to the side of Lacey’s bed.

“I’m not going anywhere in that thing.”

“Yes, you are,” Uncle Nelson said firmly. “While you’re here, I’m in charge, and besides, I’m bigger than you, so get into the chair and don’t give me any lip.” He softened his tough talk with a broad smile and a wink.

Grudgingly, she got into the chair and waited while her insulin pump and IV pole were adjusted to travel with her. It was humiliating being wheeled down the hall followed by the apparatus of her condition. She still didn’t feel good physically and wondered if she ever would feel good again. How could things have gone so wrong over the past few months? And when would she be able to resume a normal life?

Her uncle rode down with her in the elevator, wheeled her down a hall with signs reading RENAL UNIT, and into a room with several machines that stood beside chairs that resembled recliners.

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