James during treatment.
James at his recent checkup.
It all started with small things, he would drink a lot of water, but barely ate. At night, he would wake up multiple times to urinate, sometimes up to four times. He was constantly tired, and no matter what he ate or drank, whether it was milk or porridge, he would vomit. He would frequently tell us that his stomach was hurting.
When we first took him to a clinic, he was given medication to relieve his symptoms, but nothing changed. His condition worsened. He began vomiting more frequently, and eventually, we had no choice but to rush him to the hospital.
At the hospital, they administered fluids. His father and I, and even the doctors, were confused at the amount of fluids he was taking in. The doctor would ask, “where is all of it going?” After sometime he passed urine and on accident some of it got on his father’s foot. When he went to wipe it off, his father looked very puzzled. He said it looked unusual, almost sticky, and we decided to mention it to the doctor. That’s when the doctor asked for a urine sample. After running some tests, they told us what we never expected to hear: his blood sugar levels were very high.
The news was overwhelming. We asked the doctor what could be done, and they told us that while they couldn’t treat him there, they would arrange for us to be transferred to a facility that could help. That’s how we found ourselves here at FAME.
By the time we arrived, my son had lost consciousness. He couldn’t move, he wasn’t responding, and he had no awareness of what was happening. It was terrifying. For days, he remained unresponsive. It wasn’t until Wednesday, two days after we arrived, that we saw the first signs of hope. He started moving on his own. Slowly, he began to turn over in bed. Then, he started responding when we called his name.
Now, he is doing much better, though we still have some challenges, especially at night. He wakes up sweating heavily, and when we call him, he sometimes doesn’t respond—he just stares at you. But compared to where we started, we are grateful for the progress.
This experience has been eye-opening. Where we come from, we have never seen anyone with diabetes. No one in my family has had it, and it never crossed my mind that this was what my son was battling. But through the care and support at FAME, we are learning how to manage his condition and give him the best chance at a healthy life. We are deeply grateful to the medical team for helping us through this.
At his most recent check-up, James* had gained weight and energy, thanks to his parents' dedication in managing his blood sugar through proper medication and nutrition. FAME continues to invest in diabetes care through its Diabetes Clinic and Program, ensuring that families like Hilda's receive not just treatment, but also the tools and education to manage this lifelong condition. With workshops on nutrition and medication, FAME is empowering patients and caregivers to take control of their health, one step at a time.