Hereford FC manager Paul Caddis is raising funds for Diabetes Research.
The charity is close to his heart after his daughter was taken ill last October.
On May 14th Caddis will be at the County Ground Swindon for a football match to raise funds for the charity.
Here's why:
Friday 14th October 2022 my eldest daughter Summer who‘s 10 years
old went for what we thought would be a routine doctors appointment. The
previous week she had been complaining of ”lack of energy” , ”urinating
more often” , ”sore tummy” and I put this down to just another bug or
infection that was doing the rounds. As the days went on Summer - who is
an upbeat typical full of energy sassy 10 yr old - just was not
improving at all and the lack of energy resulted in a change of
personality which could only be described as sheer depressed. Upon some
blood tests at the doctors surgery Summers health escalated quickly and
we were advised in no uncertain terms to get her to Blackpool Victoria
hospital as soon as possible after a result of blood sugar levels well
over 25.0 (normal between 4 and 7) and ketone level well over 10.0
(normally under 0 - 0.6 max). As we arrived at the hospital Summer was
quickly put into the high dependancy unit under 24hour bedside care.
For any parent to see there young child lifeless with tubes and
monitors all over her body and hourly blood tests is something we never
want to experience in our lives. Summer was now in a threatening state
of health as she was in a state of DKA. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a
serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening. DKA is
most common among people with type 1 diabetes. DKA develops when your
body doesn't have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into your cells
for use as energy. 2 hours previous to this my wife was picking my
youngest daughter Mylah up at school and I was sat at my desk in
Poolfoot farm preparing a training session for my under 16s Fleetwood
Academy that evening and now we are hanging over our daughters bed
helpless with no answers to her questions. As a parent and particularly a
father that wants to protect there children and have all the answers
for there questions and tell them its going to be ok was the toughest
few days of my life not only as a parent but as a human being.
Thankfully after 72 hours of 24hour care that sassy funny lively
bubbly charasmatic 10yr old personality starting to slowly shine through
and Summer‘s condition improved enough to not need the 24hr bedside
care.
We were now as a family and none more so than our 10 yr old
daughter coming to terms that Summer had been diagnosed with Type 1
Diabetes. By all means life can be “normal” with type 1 diabetes and the
technology and research is gathering pace day by day. There’s no known
cure for type 1 diabetes right now but scientists are looking at new
treatments called immunotherapies, which could help to prevent, stop and
cure the condition.
If truth be told I was completely ignorant to not only what
diabetes was/is but the difficulties it comes with and the part only
people living with or have a diabetic individual living in there
household actually deal with day to day.
Carb counting - how many units of insulin should I give to how many
carbs my daughter has eaten. The doubts of have I given enough. Why is
her blood sugar levels high? Why is she so low after eating all those
carbs? Having to waken up at 3am because sugar levels are dangerously
low and need immediate treatment! Apple juice , fruit gums and a
chocolate digestive biscuit at 3am might be fun for kids but the novelty
wears off and my daughter is now just asking why she just can‘t sleep
“as normal”.
The education and learning for diabetes is far more than what meets
the eye. What to do with a ”hypo”? Injection sites? Did I do that
properly? The constant doubt and worry of getting it right will never
leave the parent of a diabetic child! Its not a game of football where a
mistake may cost a corner kick a free kick or at worse conceding a
goal! This is the life of our child and we want to get it right to give
her the best chance possible of living with the diagnosis.
With the support of the amazing diabetic team at Blackpool Victoria
hospital along with my colleagues at Fleetwood Town FC including my
former team mate and now first team manager Scott Brown along with all
academy staff and peers have been a great source of comfort. The support
unit of our family has been something we not just appreciated but
something we needed.
I want to give as much back and more to a cause and search for an
illness that doesn’t sleep and doesn’t rest and help fund to find a cure
for diabetes. It may not be in my lifetime , Summers lifetime but one
day I am sure there will be a breakthrough in the research.
Thank you for taking the time to read the story of my daughter Summer.
Paul