Like all of you, finding out our child had type 1 diabetes was an unbelievable reality and a life changing moment.
Our daughter Rumi, at three and a half years old, had the three classic symptoms, weight loss, frequent urination, and an insatiable thirst. Of course you don't recognize these as symptoms when you don't know anything about diabetes. She must have been sick for most of the summer, when finally someone had told me to have her checked for diabetes. I brought her to our doctor, Rumi gave a urine sample, and in seconds we were diagnosed and our lives had changed forever. When we reached the hospital, her blood glucose was well over 1000! We were lucky to still have her. Looking back now, I can put all the pieces of the puzzle together and it's still heartbreaking.
After a year of taking shots, we made the move to using a pump. ( we chose Animas, because of the small amounts you can bolus ). I had to make this a non-threatening experience for her, so we named our pump, Molly Mouse. The tubing was her tail, and the pink infusion site piece was her heart. We "woke her up", when we needed to bolus and give her a "drink", and tucked her back into" bed" when we were done. Of course, Molly needed a beautiful place to sleep, so Rumi's grandma made her our first pump pouch. It was gorgeous! And comfortable! Grandma made a bunch more to keep it fresh and fashionable, and voila, pumping was fun and not scary! Another great thing had also happened, Rumi's friends had all fallen in love with these pouches and wanted their own! They wore them all the time, everywhere, carrying special little things, even to school! Her friends still love to help monitor her blood sugars and help deliver insulin through Molly. We've developed an incredible support group with no stigmas attached to diabetes at all!
And so, ... this is how our company began. I now craft and sew every pouch personally, with heart and soul, hoping to give you hip, fun, beautiful, comfortable pouches that you can enjoy as much as we do!
Keep on pumping in style!
Robin, Rick, Rumi and Renni Johnson
( AKA....R4)
