When Your Baby is Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes: Marlee's Story

When Your Baby is Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes: Marlee's Story

Author: Katie Taylor, Certified Child Life Specialist November 12, 2025 Duration: 33:54

"My baby went from fussy to lifeless in hours—by the time we reached the PICU, they said he might have had six hours to live."


In this episode, TikTok Influencer and Medical Mom Marlee Brandon, a pediatric speech-language pathologist turned full-time mom, shares the whirlwind diagnosis of her 12-month-old son Bain with Type 1 diabetes and severe DKA, the traumatic hospital stay, and the everyday advocacy that followed. Raw, practical, and deeply hopeful.

Why this episode matters

  • Emotional clarity: what a Type 1 diagnosis really feels like in infancy

  • Practical advocacy: scripts, choices, and language that help toddlers cope

  • System gaps: when even major hospitals say "we've never seen this in a baby"

  • Hope forward: raising a confident kid who knows why care matters

What You'll Learn

  • Early signs & ER visit: how "ear infection" symptoms masked T1D in a baby

  • DKA in plain language: what "acidic blood" means and how PICU treats it

  • The learning cliff: carb ratios, breastfeeding while dosing insulin, and why it's OK not to "get it" on day one

  • Toddler coping: give choices, narrate care, build independence

  • Rebuilding trust after mistakes: when training/tools aren't perfect

  • Finding your people: groups, podcasts, and creators who answer "what now?"

Timestamps

  • 00:00 Meet Marlee (pediatric SLP → motherhood)

  • 01:40 Why speech therapy & pediatrics

  • 03:55 Bain turns one → sudden "ear infection" → nonstop vomiting

  • 06:30 Small-town ER: "He has diabetes" (dismantling stereotypes)

  • 08:35 Life-flight & PICU: severe DKA, hourly sticks, no food for 48 hrs

  • 10:20 Turning the corner: energy returns; the six-hour window

  • 11:22 "I don't understand this"—carb ratios, nursing, overwhelm

  • 13:05 "We've never seen this in a baby" at a major children's hospital

  • 15:23 Tears → handing tasks to partner → first solo shot

  • 17:20 The Chick-fil-A moment: necessity builds confidence

  • 18:44 Finding community: Facebook groups, YouTube, TikTok

  • 19:55 Narrating care for toddlers—SLP tools that build trust & language

  • 21:19 Offering choices: stickers, shot sites, pushing the button

  • 22:53 Caregiver reality: self-care with very young T1D

  • 24:32 Why daycare felt unsafe: syringe mix-ups & trust

  • 25:54 Joy check: rocks, crafts, and a kid excited by everything

  • 27:56 Best resources for newly diagnosed families

  • 29:52 "Diabetes doesn't define your life."

Marlee Shares that...

  • "Type 1 isn't about weight or diet—my baby was still nursing."

  • "They told my husband he probably had six hours to live."

  • "I thought I needed nursing school to understand our endo."

  • "I won't chase him with a shot. I explain why—insulin keeps you safe."

  • "You can be anything and do anything…and have diabetes."

Resources & Links


Hosted by Katie Taylor, a Certified Child Life Specialist, Inside the Children's Hospital is a quiet space for the often unspoken journey of pediatric illness. This podcast moves beyond the clinical to explore the human heart of the hospital, offering conversations that feel more like a shared cup of coffee in a waiting room than a formal interview. You'll hear directly from parents and caregivers who articulate the complex mix of fear, resilience, and love they experience, while pediatric nurses, doctors, and therapists provide their unique professional perspectives on fostering healing and normalcy. The discussions naturally delve into the practicalities of family life disrupted, the emotional weight carried by all involved, and the small, profound moments of hope that sustain people. It’s a resource for anyone connected to a child’s health challenge, whether you're a family member seeking solidarity, a friend looking to understand, or simply someone interested in the intersection of medicine and humanity. Each episode aims to validate the listener's own feelings, whether they are in the midst of a crisis or reflecting on one, by presenting these authentic narratives without sugarcoating yet always with profound compassion. Tune in to find a sense of community and a deeper appreciation for the delicate, powerful work happening within those walls.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Inside the Children's Hospital
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