A new normal, but bright future for an inspirational 10-year-old

In April 2023, Adler’s parents accompanied her to her pediatrician’s office for a routine checkup. Adler, an outgoing 10-year-old who enjoys playing volleyball, dancing, and jumping on her trampoline had been waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. They were hoping to figure out why this new nighttime routine was happening.

The pediatrician alerted the Miller family of the concern that further testing could potentially lead to a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, meaning Adler’s blood sugar levels tested extremely high. Additional testing at the hospital would confirm this suspicion. Adler and her family spent the next three days meeting with dietitians, social workers, nurses, and doctors, learning how to deal with the challenges of her new normal.

When they transitioned back home, the Miller’s had a lot to adjust to – monitoring carbs, attending quarterly checkups, and administering insulin shots. Adler faces many challenges, one of which is figuring out what foods spike her blood sugar levels. She has a Dexcom device that pairs to a mobile app informing her of her sugar levels. If her blood sugar levels get too low, she needs to eat a fast-acting carb. If her blood sugar level gets too high, an insulin shot must be administered. Adler has been very strong through her journey. On the first day of her diagnosis Adler was brave enough to give herself an insulin shot and has administered nearly every insulin injection since.

Adler and her family faced this challenge head on and one year later are having an easier time settling into her new normal. Adler’s diagnosis makes her no different than anyone else, she and her family are grateful for how they have handled their challenging journey. Adler aspires to become a pediatric endocrinologist because of the care she received from her medical team. She has strong ambitions to make the world a better place. “Living with diabetes makes me feel that I can be inspiring and impactful in mine and others lives,” said Adler.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Adler’s life, including her mom, dad, sister, extended family, friends, and her entire medical team.

Owen’s Brave Journey

Owen Blanton is an energetic 7-year-old who loves dinosaurs and playing outside on his swing set with his twin brother Wyatt and older brother Mason. He enjoys eating mac and cheese and when he can’t be outside playing, he likes to play Jurassic Park on his PlayStation.

In June of 2021, Owen’s parents noticed his lymph nodes were swollen. They went to urgent care where he was diagnosed with strep throat and was prescribed antibiotics. The swelling did not reduce, and Owen was referred to an ear, nose, and throat doctor. The doctors suspected he had an abscess on his tonsils, prescribed additional antibiotics, and suggested coming back later for further evaluation. Owen’s symptoms worsened, including troubled breathing and night sweats.

The Blanton family were referred to oncology specialists where Owen was admitted for eight days. Tests confirmed a diagnosis of t-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Following his diagnosis, Owen went through intense chemotherapy treatment. Treatment worked to reduce leukemia in his body. In December of 2021, the Blanton family received great news that leukemia was no longer detectable in Owen’s body.

After nearly a year of intense treatments Owen entered his maintenance phase. This phase includes a daily chemotherapy pill, monthly checkups, and infusions. Owen will be finished with all treatments in December 2024.

Throughout their journey, Owen and his family have remained strong by taking things one day at a time, trusting their medical team, and leaning into their faith.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Owen’s life, including his mom, dad, twin brother, older brother, and his entire medical team.

November 2022 was normal for the Ranly household. The kids were in school, playing sports, and the holidays were coming up. 11-year-old Reid started with a low-grade fever and flu-like symptoms. He and his mom, Sandy, were eager to get his illness out of the way in time for his older brother’s state football championship the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

By Friday, Reid appeared to be much better. He was tired but spent the night swimming and playing games with other kids. However, on the following Monday, Reid returned home from basketball practice and told his mom that he couldn’t breathe. Several days later, his coach even mentioned that he appeared very pale.

Sandy asked several family members about the symptoms Reid was showing. They agreed it seemed abnormal and recommended getting his labs checked. The following day at school, Reid’s gym teacher noticed he was having a hard time keeping up, even though he was one of the most active kids in the class. Sandy took her son to the emergency room where Reid’s dad, Jesse, was going to meet them.

COVID, flu, and strep tests all came back negative. His labs showed a very low hemoglobin count, a sure sign of cancer. Before they knew it, the Ranly’s were in an ambulance headed to the hospital where a group of doctors were already waiting for them. There, they confirmed that Reid had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

ALL is a type of childhood cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. The plan after a diagnosis is intense – spinal taps, PICC lines, blood transfusions, and immediately start chemotherapy. Reid has also been on a high dose of steroids to kill off the leukemia cells. Despite the difficulties that come with treatment, Reid stands firm knowing “the treatments might make me tired and weak, but I am strong. And I can get through this.” Reid will be heading into sixth grade at Marion Local next fall.

In February 2023, the Kopp family was enjoying a relaxing vacation in Florida. Lucy, a shy, but spunky and active 7-year-old, was experiencing frequent nightmares and what her mom, Kendra, believed to be a UTI infection. They made an appointment with her pediatrician just to be safe.

The doctor’s appointment didn’t last long. They did a urine sample, told Lucy’s parents to give her a baking soda bath that evening, and to send her back to school if she was feeling well enough to do so. Lucy returned to school that next day and within an hour her parents got a phone call from her pediatrician. They were told to quickly pick Lucy back up from school and rush her to the ER, stating Lucy had dangerously high sugar levels in her urine.

Lucy was rushed into a room where needles, medications, and doctors moved around her for the next 72 hours. Labs at the hospital confirmed her diagnosis – Type 1 Diabetes. The Kopp family stayed busy meeting with nutritionists, social workers, and doctors. They were being trained in the science of diabetes, and nurses were in and out of the room administering medication and prepping Lucy for her new normal. Their healthy, active 7-year-old, who they thought just had a UTI, now has a lifelong disease.

When they transitioned back home, the Kopp’s had a lot to adjust to – counting carbs, weighing food, and administering shots. Lucy’s Dexcom device monitors her blood sugar levels. If her blood sugar is too low,
Lucy needs to eat a fast-acting carb. If her blood sugar is too high, they administer a shot of
insulin. A difficult task for a kid who hated needles.

This journey is one that Lucy will continue to battle but has made her a new person. She says, “While it is scary at first, I have become brave and strong. I couldn’t do it without my parents and friends.” Lucy loves to visit the lake and the beach in the summer and hopes to have as many puppies as possible one day.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Dayton Dragons applaud all those who have been instrumental in Lucy’s life, including her family, Dr. Peiffer and her entire medical team.