Mom Rushed 1-Year-Old to the ER After He Showed Odd Symptoms. His 'Life-Changing' Diagnosis Shocked Her (Exclusive)
A Mississippi mother shares her emotional journey after her one-year-old son was unexpectedly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes
Marlee Brandon opens up about the early days of fear, learning, and the overwhelming responsibility of managing his condition
Today, she's focused not only on his care, but on teaching him to understand his diabetes and speak about it with confidence as he growsA parent can always tell when something isn't quite right with their child, even if the signs are small and easy to dismiss.
Six days after her son Bain's first birthday, Marlee Brandon, 28, decided to take him to urgent care after she noticed he was grumpier than usual and cutting his bottom teeth. It was there that Bain was diagnosed with a bilateral hearing infection and sent home with a few antibiotics.
The toddler's symptoms, however, suddenly worsened on the ride home. 'He could not stop vomiting, but was drinking all the water/breastmilk he could get, was very short of breath with labored breathing, and eventually just had no energy to keep his head up,' Brandon tells PEOPLE exclusively.
What followed was a frantic trip to the emergency room, where fear gave way to shock as her son faced a diagnosis that would reshape their lives overnight.
On Aug. 16, 2024, Bain was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. A visit to the emergency room revealed he was suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis – a life-threatening condition that resulted in the family being airlifted to a local state children's hospital.
'I immediately went into shock,' the young mother recalls. 'When you are taking your infant son to an ER because he is sick, you are assuming something like strep throat, RSV, COVID. I never expected such a life-changing diagnosis at that moment.'
Bain remained in the ICU for three days as they corrected his sugars and closed his gap. In the meantime, Brandon and her husband, Chandler, spent several days on a specialized education floor – learning how to care for Bain's new medical needs with confidence and clarity.
'When I was in the med-helicopter with him in the back heading to the ICU, I think I finally just accepted that this is our new life,' she shares. 'I will ultimately do anything to raise awareness and advocate for him.'
Marlee gives her husband credit for managing their son's diabetes in those first difficult weeks. It took her time to find the strength, held back by the heartbreak of knowing she'd have to cause her child pain to keep him alive.
In hindsight, Marlee now realizes that Bain had been showing clear signs of type 1 diabetes – such as excessive urination, increased thirst, and noticeable weight loss – but as a new mother, she had assumed the changes were just part of normal growth.
'It is normal and wanted for infants/young toddlers to drink water, have wet diapers,' she says. 'He was transitioning from a crawling baby to walking while also getting taller, so I assumed he is losing weight because of being more mobile.' It was tough for her to see the signs, especially since she and her husband have no immediate family with a history of type 1 diabetes.
'On my husband's side of the family, he has 2nd, 3rd, and 4th cousins with T1D,' she reveals. 'I get lots of questions about me having gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with Bain, and the answer is no. Bain's T1D was triggered by an illness, but he did have a family history of autoimmune as well.'
The day Bain was diagnosed, Marlee quit her job at an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic as a speech language pathologist. 'As much as people say 'your son can have a normal life,' it truly just is not possible,' she emphasizes. 'I cannot send him to a daycare and trust that they take care of his T1D like I can.'
Her life now revolves around managing Bain's condition. She and her husband constantly monitor his Dexcom readings, count carbs for every meal and snack, and do their best to give their son a joyful, carefree childhood. 'T1D burnout is real and it's because it truly takes every amount of energy you have to be a pancreas for your child,' she shares. 'No two days are the same.'
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Like any parents of a one-year-old, they juggle the usual routines, but with added steps like pump and sensor site changes and timing meals around insulin. 'He has worn a Dexcom since discharge from his inpatient stay at diagnosis. It is a lifesaver, truly,' Marlee reveals. 'They are not perfect by any means, but just the mental stability it helps you have as parents…is top notch.'
Marlee admits it will be difficult for her to release certain responsibilities to someone else as her son gets older. 'I worry about him aging and going to school where someone will have to take care of him,' she tells PEOPLE. 'It just is hard to let go of control when it's your child's life in their hands.'
Using her training as a speech language pathologist, Marlee is handing over strength and knowledge to her son about his condition from a young age. In a viral TikTok, she is seen discussing type 1 diabetes with Bain as a way to promote early awareness.
Related: Egg Donor Defends Unique Bond with Biological Daughter — and Why Little Girl Calls Her Mommy (Exclusive)
'I know the foundations of language, so I know what works and what does not. I have always talked to him about everything, trying to grow his receptive and expressive language,' she explains.
'So many people think babies 'can't learn' and 'can't understand,' but it shows that they can learn and understand complex topics. Talk on their level, communicate using simple words and phrases, talk a lot and about everything. This will change his perception of this disease since he can understand why and what it is.'
Marlee wants her son to grow up unafraid of his diabetes and aware of what managing it involves. She and her husband made it a priority to help him feel safe and comfortable during site changes or finger pricks. Like any parent, she hopes he'll grow into a confident, self-sufficient adult — one who lives a long, healthy life.
By sharing Bain's journey, Marlee and her son have not only received love and support but also a great amount of knowledge through the T1D community. 'There are so many creators that showcase their life with T1D, show things they have learned that medical professionals just don't teach you,' she says.
By welcoming new perspectives and meeting new people, Marlee feels less alone and isolated. 'Everyone on TikTok truly 'just gets it' and that always helps me after a bad night of… stubborn high blood sugar that we can not get down.'
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