“It was such a relief to be in a place where everyone was familiar with this rare condition and knew how to help. The monthly ER run’s and constant chaos has been almost eliminated thanks for Doctor Paul Thornton and his team” – Kipton’s Mom

Kipton (like many children with Hyperinsulinism) had a very busy first year of life, spending most of it in and out of the hospital. Kipton was born full-term at 39 weeks and weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces.  In the State of Washington any baby born over 9 pounds has their blood glucose checked. Although not horribly low, the doctor requested a follow up blood glucose level for a few hours later at which point his blood sugar was extremely low and he was brought to the NICU.

After being cared for non-stop in the NICU and having a central line placed with a high amount of dextrose being administered, Kitpon was transferred to the top NICU in Washington State. Here they placed Kitpon on diazoxide and weaned him off dextrose. After spending 18 days in the hospital, Doctors believed he had a transient form of hyperinsulinism and he was sent home off medication and without any blood glucose monitor. We were so thankful for a full recovery and excited for our son to be home with his older sister. However, 3 days later he went into his pediatrician’s office for his newborn appointment and his blood glucose of 31.

After rushing to our local Children’s Hospital, Kipton’s blood glucose was 19! Doctors worked hard to stabilize him and resuscitate him. From this point on, Kitpon followed a pattern of finding himself in and out of the hospital due to low blood sugar and problems with Diazoxide. A week before his 1st Birthday our endocrinologist recommended that Kipton go see Doctor Paul Thornton at COOK CHILDREN’s Hospital. What a sigh of relief, there was no explaining to the nurses (or even Doctors!) what Hyperinsulinism was, they already knew. It was such a relief to be in a place where everyone was familiar with this rare condition and knew how to help.

After 10 days of being hospitalized at COOK’s and working with Doctor Thornton’s wonderful team, Kipton was sent back home to Seattle with a new dose of Diazoxide, Octeotride for when he is ill and a glucagon shot for emergencies. I am excited to share Kitpon has NOT been hospitalized for over 9 months. This is huge for us and our family. The monthly ER run’s and constant chaos has been almost eliminated thanks for Doctor Paul Thornton and his team.