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When Your Baby is Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes: Marlee's Story
“My baby went from fussy to lifeless in hours—by the time we reached the PICU, they said he might have had six hours to live.” In this episode, TikTok Influencer and Medical Mom Marlee Brandon, a pediatric speech-language pathologist turned full-time mom, shares the whirlwind diagnosis of her 12-month-old son Bain with Type 1 diabetes and severe DKA, the traumatic hospital stay, and the everyday advocacy that followed. Raw, practical, and deeply hopeful. Why this episode matters Emotional clarity: what a Type 1 diagnosis really feels like in infancy Practical advocacy: scripts, choices, and language that help toddlers cope System gaps: when even major hospitals say “we’ve never seen this in a baby” Hope forward: raising a confident kid who knows why care matters What You’ll Learn Early signs & ER visit: how “ear infection” symptoms masked T1D in a baby DKA in plain language: what “acidic blood” means and how PICU treats it The learning cliff: carb ratios, breastfeeding while dosing insulin, and why it’s OK not to “get it” on day one Toddler coping: give choices, narrate care, build independence Rebuilding trust after mistakes: when training/tools aren’t perfect Finding your people: groups, podcasts, and creators who answer “what now?” Timestamps 00:00 Meet Marlee (pediatric SLP → motherhood) 01:40 Why speech therapy & pediatrics 03:55 Bain turns one → sudden “ear infection” → nonstop vomiting 06:30 Small-town ER: “He has diabetes” (dismantling stereotypes) 08:35 Life-flight & PICU: severe DKA, hourly sticks, no food for 48 hrs 10:20 Turning the corner: energy returns; the six-hour window 11:22 “I don’t understand this”—carb ratios, nursing, overwhelm 13:05 “We’ve never seen this in a baby” at a major children’s hospital 15:23 Tears → handing tasks to partner → first solo shot 17:20 The Chick-fil-A moment: necessity builds confidence 18:44 Finding community: Facebook groups, YouTube, TikTok 19:55 Narrating care for toddlers—SLP tools that build trust & language 21:19 Offering choices: stickers, shot sites, pushing the button 22:53 Caregiver reality: self-care with very young T1D 24:32 Why daycare felt unsafe: syringe mix-ups & trust 25:54 Joy check: rocks, crafts, and a kid excited by everything 27:56 Best resources for newly diagnosed families 29:52 “Diabetes doesn’t define your life.” Marlee Shares that... “Type 1 isn’t about weight or diet—my baby was still nursing.” “They told my husband he probably had six hours to live.” “I thought I needed nursing school to understand our endo.” “I won’t chase him with a shot. I explain why—insulin keeps you safe.” “You can be anything and do anything…and have diabetes.” Resources & Links Support communities Diapers & Diabetes (Facebook group for infants/toddlers with T1D) Juicebox Podcast Related Child Life On Call resources Explaining shots, blood draws and vaccines to kids   SupportSpot App (by Child Life On Call) Procedure guides, coping plans, journals, and parent resources to feel prepared and advocate with confidence 
Inside the Children's Hospital
http://insidethechildrenshospital.com
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