Teen manages Type 1 diabetes with bravery and maturity
Kaija, 17, is a brilliant high school sophomore who loves creating art — especially with watercolor — and enjoys reading, listening to music, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Not only does Kaija excel in school and her hobbies, but also with the management of her Type 1 diabetes. She’s even earned the nickname “star pupil” in the MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s endocrinology clinic.
Kaija, 16, manages her Type 1 Diabetes with maturity and bravery.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that affects the production of insulin and is primarily caused by cells attacking and destroying cells in the pancreas. Diagnosis is typically made in early childhood, and it’s a lifelong condition that requires constant monitoring and adjusting of glucose and insulin levels.
Kaija’s journey with Type 1 diabetes began when she was 9 years old.
“She wasn’t feeling well that week, and by Friday I noticed she was drinking much more water than usual,” remembers Kaija’s mom, Astra. “Being an RN myself, I immediately thought it might be Type 1 diabetes, but I also thought I was just being an overreactive mom.”
Kaija’s pediatrician agreed that it sounded like Type 1 diabetes. A urinalysis soon confirmed the diagnosis.
“As soon as the medical assistant walked back into the room with the glucometer, I knew and began to cry,” Astra says.
“I wasn’t scared,” Kaija says. “I was confused.”
Right away, Kaija’s pediatrician sent her to Mary Bridge Children’s emergency department. The ED physician explained the diagnosis, and within hours Kaija was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
“I was no longer a nurse; I was a scared mom,” Astra says.
Barbara Thompson, MD, chief medical officer of Mary Bridge Children’s Health Network and pediatric endocrinologist, met Kaija during that initial PICU admission.
“Dr. Thompson has been Kaija’s doctor since day one, and I’m so thankful for her,” says Astra. “She encouraged Kaija early on to step outside of her comfort zone and get an insulin pump, and to talk to others about being a Type 1 diabetic.”
Kaija remembers how kind Dr. Thompson was and how she’s always willing to answer questions in ways that are easy to understand.
Dr. Thompson says that Kaija always gets the job done when it comes to responsibly managing her Type 1 diagnosis.
“She didn’t fight it, and by doing the work on the front end, her diabetes has probably required less work overall,” says Dr. Thompson.
The girl with purple hair
When she looks back at the night when Kaija was diagnosed, Astra appreciates how the providers and staff at Mary Bridge Children’s connected with her family.
At the time, Kaija had purple hair, and the doctors and nurses noticed. Astra recalls how they’d come into the room asking for “the girl with purple hair who’s on our unit.”
Little interactions like that helped break the ice and lessen the stress of Kaija’s diagnosis and hospital admission.
“They explained everything so well — what they were doing, how to manage the insulin drip, taking time to talk to my husband, to me and most importantly, directly to Kaija,” Astra says.
At Kaija’s first few clinic visits, there were lots of tears, but Astra remembers how everyone — from doctors and nurses to dietitians and child life specialists — supported the whole family, reminding them that they’ll be OK.
One of Kaija’s favorite hobbies is painting watercolor.
“The compassion for families at Mary Bridge is unmatched anywhere else,” Astra says. “They’re committed to the kid as the patient but extend that commitment to the family as well. When a kid has an illness or has questions about their diagnosis, it involves their whole family, and Mary Bridge really understands that.”
Child life is a donor-sponsored service that helps normalize things that happen in a hospital setting, whether that’s helping patients know what to expect during a hospital stay or providing coping tools for pokes and procedures.
Child life specialists often help patients learn through interactive play, and as Kaija says, they helped make the scary things more fun.
“Child life connects with patients in a way that nurses can’t,” says Astra. “There’s just a different connection — someone who comes in and talks to her as a person, not another person coming to do another poke or test. I can’t imagine going through those things without their support.”
Finding her voice and advocating for others
Kaija has always been mature about managing her diagnosis.
“Kaija probably remembers being called a ‘star pupil’ because sometimes I have new patients who are afraid of new technology,” says Dr. Thompson. “In those instances, it can help to see and hear things from a peer rather than just having me as their doctor tell them that something isn’t scary.”
Kaija is one of those peers. On more than one occasion, Dr. Thompson has pulled Kaija into another patient’s room to help explain what it’s like to live with Type 1 or how to use technology like an insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor.
“So many people don’t realize what having diabetes actually means,” Kaija says. “Even though I’m so young, I know what it means to have to deal with this. I think it’s easier to connect with people if you’re able to explain it from a younger person’s point of view. For new Type 1 diabetics, it’s nice to talk to other young diabetics instead of hearing it only from an authority figure.”
In addition to sharing with other patients, Kaija recently had the opportunity to talk about her Type 1 journey with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray at a listening session. Sen. Murray came to Mary Bridge Children’s to discuss legislation and coverage of insulin for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics.
The senator listened as Kaija shared her story, talking about things she worries about as a diabetic, including how she’ll afford her care when she ages out of Astra’s health care coverage. Astra also shared her joint perspective as a nurse and mother.
“Telling Sen. Murray about the concerns Kaija has as a young teenager — worries about paying for insulin, supplies, pumps, reservoirs and sensors — is something that nobody should have to talk or worry about,” Astra says.
Not letting diabetes define her
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition. For many, including Kaija, this means they often need to commit to their care management and not let the diagnosis get the best of them.
“I’m so proud of how Kaija doesn’t let diabetes stop her,” says Astra. “She’s just her same wonderful self. She deals with this every day and is so strong. She gets nervous about doing some things, but she does them anyway — she pushes through and finds inner strength, determination and stays true to herself. Her diabetes is just one of the little curveballs life threw to her.”
Mary Bridge Children’s offers comprehensive care for Type 1 diabetes and endocrinological concerns and conditions, including clinical trials and research opportunities. Learn more or find a pediatric endocrinologist near you.
Kaija is one of Mary Bridge Children’s Patient Ambassadors. Meet the rest of our incredible patient ambassadors and learn how Mary Bridge Children’s provides health and healing for them.