Teen’s show of strength inspiring
Now 14 years old, Erin Gagnier is an active, vivacious athlete in her first year of high school. She plays hockey and soccer, and enjoys trips to the amusement park.
Three years ago, though, in December of 2009, her life — and that of her family’s — seemed to become a real-life rollercoaster.
“I didn’t know she was sick,” admits mom Sharron Gagnier. While on vacation, Erin seemed to be drinking and eating just fine, causing no suspicion. But during a trip to the beach, Sharron was alarmed to discover Erin’s shocking weight loss.
“She had this bathing suit on that had been too tight on her that September,” recalls Sharron. “I’d actually told her to throw it away. Now it was falling off her.”
Sharron’s mother, a Type 2 diabetic, urged Sharron to take Erin to get tested. The next few days were a whirlwind of activities for the Gagnier family, as Erin was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
“We were at the family doctor, then the specialist, then the clinic … there was no waiting,” says Sharon. “It was amazing. In spite of the craziness, it was probably the best experience we could have had. There was no doubt we were being taken care of.”
Sharron, a former VON nurse, was astounded at the level of care offered and provided to them by the pediatric and metabolic unit at Windsor Regional Hospital. “The stuff they were teaching me, I knew nothing about,” says Sharron. “At times I found myself questioning things, like ‘Are you sure?’ But it was very clear, very fast, just how incredible the team is.
“They took care of Erin,” continues Sharron. “They doted over her, which put us at ease. They’re big on teach, teach, teach, and we were there for four days straight, sitting in class, learning. We learned about the disease, how to manage it, what to expect.
“I believe with all my heart they saved us.”
As for teenage Erin, the disease hasn’t stopped her from living her life to its fullest. Fiercely independent and impressively resilient, Erin is so familiar with her body that she’s able to let her parents know exactly what it’s telling her.
“She went through maybe one bad period, a bit of a depression, when it kind of hit her what it was she was dealing with,” says Sharron. “But she kicked herself out of it.”
“I’m so proud of Erin. She’s a good representative of all these kids, who are so strong. They have to be. They don’t have a choice. As her parents, we probably had a harder time with it than she did. But that’s the blessing we have with the clinic. They’re there for us, and they’re there for the kids.”