When a Red Flag Changes the Whole Game

Wylan Rich gets a shocking T1D diagnosis during the biggest football game of the year.

February 4, 2018, was a Super Bowl Sunday that one Texarkana family will never forget. And, it wasn’t because the Eagles were playing the Patriots. Jessica and Blake Rich had two sick sons on their hands. Liam, their youngest, had been ill the day before with cold and flu symptoms. On Sunday, their 7-year-old son Wylan also started acting like he had the flu and was getting worse as the night progressed. Blake and Jessica decided to try a bath to make him feel better.

“We gave him a bath, and he was falling asleep in the tub,” Jessica said. Frightened by their son’s symptoms and lethargy, the Riches decided to take Wylan to Texarkana Emergency Center. There, they got the news that would change their lives, and Wylan’s, forever.

“Not only did Wylan actually have the flu, but his blood sugar was 700+ and he was in DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) with an A1C of 12.3,” Jessica said.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening complication of type 1 diabetes that happens when the body produces high levels of ketones due to the lack of insulin.

The doctors at Texarkana Emergency Center wasted no time and arranged for Wylan to be immediately airlifted to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, where for the next four days, Wylan would get IV fluids while his insulin was being regulated. The diagnosis for Wylan was type 1 diabetes, which at this time has no cure.

“It’s safe to say we were all in shock and denial. Wylan was frightened at first and unsure of why this was happening to him and why he now had to have shots everyday four times a day,” Jessica said.

Doctors, nurses, and diabetic educators made sure that Blake and Jessica got educated about type 1 diabetes and how to care for their son. As Wylan physically improved, he also adapted quickly to the insulin shots and lifestyle modifications.

Like every boy his age, his eating habits were to change, too. “We went from having snacks and sweets whenever to being more aware of what everyone was eating daily,” said Jessica. “We told Wylan if he couldn’t have it, neither could we. We are a family; we are a team. Good nutrition is important for everyone, so looking at it from that perspective, it’s only helped our family. “

The Riches have relied on their faith throughout, and they believe that Wylan’s diagnosis is just a small part in God’s perfect plan.

“It rocked our world at first. You want life to be perfect for your children. But you can always find the good in negative situations; you just have to look for it,” said Jessica.

Now, six months since the initial shock and scare of that dreadful February night, Wylan has an omnipod, and no longer has to get shots everyday. The family is thankful for this Bluetooth enabled, waterproof, tubeless pod that regulates his insulin. They still have to monitor his blood sugar to ensure it is not too high or too low, but Wylan is as active as he ever was before his diabetic diagnosis. In the fall, Wylan will play football, which is his favorite sport.

Jessica notes that having good friends in Texarkana, who had already walked in Blake and Jessica’s shoes with their own diabetic son’s diagnosis, helped them as they adapted to their new challenges.

Ali and Cody Deal, parents to John Morris, knew well the roller coaster of emotions that come with the changes the Riches were experiencing.

“I don’t know what Blake and I would do if we didn’t have our precious friends, the Deal family, to do this life with. They’ve comforted and encouraged us from the beginning,” said Jessica.

Having other people who understand your unique situation is always important when dealing with a health problem and a child. Like John Morris Deal, Wylan has embraced his diagnosis, and he is not afraid to swim, run, play, and do everything the rest of his peers are doing.

When asked what she would tell other parents of newly diagnosed diabetic children, Jessica replied, “There will be struggles; it won’t be easy everyday, but you will find your new normal, and you’ll learn to manage this new life and learn to make the most of it.”

Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) to Know

From the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas stops producing insulin—a hormone that converts food to energy for your body. Diet and lifestyle are not factors in the onset of type 1 diabetes. Unfortunately there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes, and there is currently no cure.