Aaron & Rich take on T1d/Lymphoma
Donation protected
My name is Aaron Mauck and I'm here promoting a shared fight with Type 1 Diabetes and Lymphoma.
My Diagnosis
On Tuesday, May 22nd, my friend and roommate Charlie brought me into the Emergency Room at Woodhull Medical Center. After nearly two weeks of a buildup of symptoms (increased thirst, dizziness, fatigue) I began vomiting violently and lost my ability to do nearly anything.
I would find out in the ER that my blood sugar levels had hit 650 and I was going through something called Diabetic Ketoacidosis. My Endocrinologist would later show me during the review of my blood work that I was, by numerical standards, in a severe hyperglycemia and she was surprised I could remember anything at all. In all, I was just a handful of hours from Diabetic Coma.
As they pumped Insulin and fluids for my dehydration (and maybe a little morphine, I think the picture tells the tale), I was shocked to find out about late-onset Type 1 Diabetes.
With a strong genetic component attached (I have no one in my near family with the condition) and prior symptoms (I had none before this episode), I was completely blindsided.
In addition to recovery for the DKA, my stay was extended due to an air pocket that had formed around my heart/neck region because of the intensity of the retching, landing me in the Cardiac unit.
Luckily, I bounced back splendidly with the help of the Woodhull team and my impossibly wonderful partner Morgan, I was able to start a new, healthy chapter of my life. Just a couple shots per day and keeping track of my blood sugar combined with a well-rounded diet should keep me in the clear. Advancements in glucose and insulin monitoring/injecting even have wearable patches that connect to a smartphone that I am hopeful to qualify for in the near future, making the whole process even more painless.
And here comes the next part.
10 days after my discharge on June 4th, I received a phone call from my Dad, Rich, with the news that he'd come out of the ER with a Lymphoma Cancer diagnosis.
Currently, there are 4 cancer spots that the Oncologist has identified, with one spot on the neck being designated for surgery to remove and run tests on at the Mayo Clinic.
My dad is optimistic and committed to tackling this diagnosis head on with the guidance of his doctors and the support of his friends and family. While still in the early stages with many questions to be answered, I'm excited to join him in the life changes we face together as father and son.
What your support would mean
My father has his surgery slated for the first week of July. Being able to get down to Virginia from Brooklyn to be with him during the process would mean the world. Taking time off from the eternal hustle that is NYC would, and has, meant falling behind on hitting monthly income goals.
Anything raised would go to transportation and covering time off spent with my father in his recovery. The costs of our collective ER visits and follow ups are still being tallied, but we will make the best of the situation whatever it may be. The daily costs of covering my glucose test strips, insulin supplies, following up with all of my specialists, and (most importantly) eating healthily have quickly amounted in the past weeks.
In Conclusion (and To Be Continued...)
Thank you for taking the time to read about my father and I. I will be keeping this page updated with progress reports as often as possible. I've set this goal at the standard recommended amount due to being so early in the process with where we both are and the questions that remain for us.
Just a bit about us: I am a VCU Theatre grad coming up on my first full year in NYC. I've recently enjoyed working in class with Film-making students at School of Visual arts, on a variety of true-crime recreation series, and I have especially enjoyed taking care of a puppo named Boo Radley (here he is trying to snack on my ear).
My Dad has been a hardworking man all of his life. A little over a decade ago, he experienced a disk rupture in his back that has left him on disability after a multitude of operations. His true love is riding his motorcycle out far down some road with no particular destination in mind, something I hope to get him back to as soon as possible.
My Diagnosis
On Tuesday, May 22nd, my friend and roommate Charlie brought me into the Emergency Room at Woodhull Medical Center. After nearly two weeks of a buildup of symptoms (increased thirst, dizziness, fatigue) I began vomiting violently and lost my ability to do nearly anything.
I would find out in the ER that my blood sugar levels had hit 650 and I was going through something called Diabetic Ketoacidosis. My Endocrinologist would later show me during the review of my blood work that I was, by numerical standards, in a severe hyperglycemia and she was surprised I could remember anything at all. In all, I was just a handful of hours from Diabetic Coma.
As they pumped Insulin and fluids for my dehydration (and maybe a little morphine, I think the picture tells the tale), I was shocked to find out about late-onset Type 1 Diabetes.
With a strong genetic component attached (I have no one in my near family with the condition) and prior symptoms (I had none before this episode), I was completely blindsided.
In addition to recovery for the DKA, my stay was extended due to an air pocket that had formed around my heart/neck region because of the intensity of the retching, landing me in the Cardiac unit.
Luckily, I bounced back splendidly with the help of the Woodhull team and my impossibly wonderful partner Morgan, I was able to start a new, healthy chapter of my life. Just a couple shots per day and keeping track of my blood sugar combined with a well-rounded diet should keep me in the clear. Advancements in glucose and insulin monitoring/injecting even have wearable patches that connect to a smartphone that I am hopeful to qualify for in the near future, making the whole process even more painless.
And here comes the next part.
10 days after my discharge on June 4th, I received a phone call from my Dad, Rich, with the news that he'd come out of the ER with a Lymphoma Cancer diagnosis.
Currently, there are 4 cancer spots that the Oncologist has identified, with one spot on the neck being designated for surgery to remove and run tests on at the Mayo Clinic.
My dad is optimistic and committed to tackling this diagnosis head on with the guidance of his doctors and the support of his friends and family. While still in the early stages with many questions to be answered, I'm excited to join him in the life changes we face together as father and son.
What your support would mean
My father has his surgery slated for the first week of July. Being able to get down to Virginia from Brooklyn to be with him during the process would mean the world. Taking time off from the eternal hustle that is NYC would, and has, meant falling behind on hitting monthly income goals.
Anything raised would go to transportation and covering time off spent with my father in his recovery. The costs of our collective ER visits and follow ups are still being tallied, but we will make the best of the situation whatever it may be. The daily costs of covering my glucose test strips, insulin supplies, following up with all of my specialists, and (most importantly) eating healthily have quickly amounted in the past weeks.
In Conclusion (and To Be Continued...)
Thank you for taking the time to read about my father and I. I will be keeping this page updated with progress reports as often as possible. I've set this goal at the standard recommended amount due to being so early in the process with where we both are and the questions that remain for us.
Just a bit about us: I am a VCU Theatre grad coming up on my first full year in NYC. I've recently enjoyed working in class with Film-making students at School of Visual arts, on a variety of true-crime recreation series, and I have especially enjoyed taking care of a puppo named Boo Radley (here he is trying to snack on my ear).
My Dad has been a hardworking man all of his life. A little over a decade ago, he experienced a disk rupture in his back that has left him on disability after a multitude of operations. His true love is riding his motorcycle out far down some road with no particular destination in mind, something I hope to get him back to as soon as possible.
Organizer
Aaron Mauck
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY