Janet Lynn Mitchell

With a shiver, my own thoughts startled me.

I gave myself an emergency pep talk and recited what I knew to be true, “I can do all things through God who strengthens me. I can do all things....” Uncertain where to find what I needed, I decided to walk up and down each aisle. Soon I was holding a box of cereal, reading the label, trying to figure out the carbohydrate count and sugar content.

Would three-fourths of a cup of cereal fill Jenna up? Not finding any “sugar free” cereal, I grabbed a box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and continued shopping. Pausing, I turned back. Do I still buy Fruit Loops for Jason? I hadn’t even thought how Jenna’s diagnosis might affect Jason, my typical four-year-old.

Eventually I walked down the canned fruit and juice aisle. Yes, I need apple juice, but, how much? Just how often will Jenna’s sugar “go low” so she will need this lifesaving can of juice? Will a six-year-old actually know when her blood sugar is dropping? What if...? I began to ask myself several questions again.

I held the can of apple juice and began to read the label. Jenna will need fifteen carbohydrates of juice when her sugar drops. But this can has thirty-two. Immediately I could see my hand begin to tremble. I tried to steady the can and reread the label when I felt tears leave my eyes and run down my cheeks. Not knowing what to do, I grabbed a couple of six-packs of apple juice and placed them in my cart.