UH Rainbow Helps Family Adjust to Diagnosis

At first, the signs were subtle. Four-year-old Braydan Knarr seemed like he was always thirsty and going to the bathroom. “It was summertime and he was playing outside and running around a lot, so it didn’t seem that strange that he was drinking and urinating more,” said his grandmother, Mendy McIntyre.

When things started getting progressively worse, Braydan’s mother, Allisan, took him to the pediatrician. Tests quickly revealed a sky-high blood sugar, or glucose level. Braydan needed immediate emergency care and was sent to UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital.

At UH Rainbow, Braydan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition in which the body fails to produce insulin, the hormone needed to move glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells. To keep his glucose level in a healthy range, he would need insulin injections throughout the day to keep his blood sugar within a healthy range.

“When we learned that Braydan had diabetes, our world flipped upside down,” recalled Mendy. “We were completely overwhelmed.”

During Braydan’s four-day stay, his family met with doctors, nurses, dietitians, certified diabetes educators, social workers, psychologists and others who equipped them with the knowledge and tools to manage his condition.

“I’m still in awe of the Rainbow staff,” said Mendy. “By the time we left, we felt like we had the information and skills needed to take care of our little guy.”

Now six-years-old, Braydan checks his own blood sugar levels and is active in managing his diabetes. He needs insulin five times per day, along with a long-acting dose before bed but doesn’t let that stop him from playing basketball, football and baseball.

“That’s our goal for every patient,” said Sarah MacLeish, DO, Pediatric Endocrinologist at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. “It isn’t about making their lives fit into diabetes. We strive to adjust their care and treatment regimen so it fits into their lifestyle and they can do whatever they want to do.”

Advancing Specialty Care at UH Rainbow

Following renovations, the first floor of UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital will be home to the new Jeannette and Frank Zagara Pediatric Specialty Clinic. Approximately 30,000 square feet, the clinic will change the way specialty care is provided by bringing services together in one convenient location, allowing patients and families to see multiple care providers in one visit. Among its many services, the Zagara Specialty Clinic will provide endocrinology, cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, pediatric surgery, immunology, audiology and psychology.