When 10-month-old Zariah first became sick, her family thought it was just a passing illness — maybe a virus, maybe something that rest and fluids would fix. But what began as a routine emergency room visit turned into a fight for her life, one that would reveal a diagnosis no parent ever wants to hear.
For nearly 12 hours, Zariah’s mother, Kaitlyn, and grandmother sat anxiously by her side in a nearby hospital. Doctors ran tests, asked questions, and searched for answers that seemed just out of reach. But as the hours ticked by, the medical team prepared to send them home — still without a clear explanation for why baby Zariah was so sick.
Something deep inside Kaitlyn refused to accept it. Her instincts screamed that something was terribly wrong. “Her dad has type 1 diabetes,” she said. “So it had always been a fear of mine.” She insisted on more testing — one more round of bloodwork, one more chance to find the truth.
That decision changed everything.
When the results came back, they revealed an alarmingly high blood glucose level. Zariah was in danger. Within moments, the quiet uncertainty of the ER transformed into urgent action. Nurses and doctors rushed to stabilize her, and she was quickly transferred to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Brenner Children’s Hospital, where a specialized pediatric team awaited.
“Everything went so smoothly from there,” Kaitlyn recalled, her voice breaking with both relief and gratitude. “From the moment we arrived, she was surrounded by compassionate, expert care. The nurses and doctors worked so quickly — and I finally felt like I could breathe.”
For Kaitlyn, those moments of calm in the chaos were unforgettable. She remembers watching as the team cared for Zariah with gentle precision — adjusting IVs, checking monitors, explaining every step with patience and kindness. “They treated her like she was their own,” she said softly.
The diagnosis was official: type 1 diabetes. It meant a lifelong journey of monitoring, insulin, and constant vigilance. But it also meant something else — hope.
Once stabilized, Zariah was fitted with an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), two small devices that changed everything. “Initially, I was waking up every four hours to do finger pricks and give her insulin shots,” Kaitlyn explained. “So both of these things were a game changer for diabetes.”
Now two years old, Zariah is thriving — energetic, curious, and full of life. She runs through the house giggling, her insulin pump clipped neatly at her side, a quiet reminder of the invisible strength she carries.
Managing diabetes in a toddler is no small task. Every meal, every snack, every nap requires attention and care. “It’s not perfect,” Kaitlyn admits. “But we’re doing the best we can.”
She leans heavily on her family — her parents and her boyfriend — who stepped in during those hardest days, taking shifts, helping track glucose readings, learning how to administer insulin, and offering endless emotional support. “I couldn’t have managed everything as a single mom without them,” she said. “They were truly my rocks.”
Through it all, Kaitlyn has learned one vital truth: parents know their children best. Her advice to others walking the same path is simple but powerful — never stop fighting for your child.
“If I had just accepted what they told me that night, if I hadn’t pushed for one more test, I don’t know where we’d be today,” she said. “Always advocate for your child. Always trust your gut.”
Her words carry the weight of experience and the quiet courage of a mother who refused to give up — who turned fear into action, and uncertainty into strength.
Now, every morning when Kaitlyn wakes up to see her daughter smiling, full of energy and mischief, she’s reminded of how far they’ve come. The monitors that once filled her with anxiety now bring reassurance. The needles, the numbers, the routines — they’ve become part of life, but they no longer define it.
Zariah’s journey began in fear, but it continues in hope — a hope carried by a little girl who beat the odds and a mother whose love never wavered.
“She’s my miracle,” Kaitlyn says simply. “And I thank God every day that I listened to that voice inside me — the one that said, don’t give up.”
