Mason Blankenship

Mason was born October 15, 2018, a healthy baby boy. We always knew he was special and one of a kind but nothing could have prepared us for how rare he really is. Turns out he is 1 in 500,000 babies to have been diagnosed with neonatal diabetes. On Saturday December 1 Mason was rushed to Memorial Hermann Sugar Land ER by his mother and grandma. Mom had eaten shrimp that afternoon and breastfed, when Mason started showing signs of labored breathing, vomiting, and extreme lethargy they rushed him to the ER suspecting he was going into anaphylactic shock. Little did they know that would save his life. Mason ended up being intubated then life-lighted in a helicopter to Memorial Hermann Houston downtown Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Upon arriving they were told their baby was very sick and an extremely peculiar case. Mason could no longer breathe on his own and his body was in an extreme state. His blood sugar levels were 634 and The pH in his body was extremely acidic. At first the doctors were puzzled because he has all the signs of diabetes, but Mason is only 6 weeks old. But they were right, Mason is 1 in 500,000 babies to have neonatal diabetes. Thankfully he was treated correctly and quickly. The swiftness of his care saved Masons life, and his organs. If Mason would have remained in his condition any longer he would have had severe kidney, liver and brain damage, it very likely could have been fatal. Mason is currently in the ICU being monitored closely by many specialists who are working around the clock to get his treatment perfectly tailored to him. The insulin dosages are extremely difficult because of his size and the fact that babies eat so often and not always the same amount. Masons stay here at Memorial Hermann will be a long process but he is on the mend towards a new life full of new challenges. His parents Alden and Alex will be required to stay in the hospital with him 24/7 over the next few weeks to work with the medical specialists and diabetes educators to ensure success at home. As well as traveling from Bellville to Houston (61 miles one way) to see multiple specialists in the medical center extremely frequently after his hospital stay. Although Masons diagnosis is rare and very serious, it is treatable. But requires a lot of time and dedication. Any donation will help lift the financial burden of medical expenses, hospital parking, meals while in the hospital, transportation from Bellville to the medical center for doctor appointments, and lost wages. We thank you for your love and prayers in this difficult time.