When I was 15 years old my family took me and a friend to Busch Gardens, probably for Hallow-scream. When we get there I took my friend on one of my favorite rides in the park. At the time I felt fine after riding though I felt very dizzy. My mom thought that it would be a good idea to eat something and drink something. So I agreed and had a snack, unfortunately I got sick shortly after my snack and decided I didn't want to ride anymore rides that day so, when we went to get dinner at the Fest house in Germany I had sat down at a table while my parents got dinner. When I started to notice my stomach hurting so much that I couldn't sit up. I went to the bathroom without my parents seeing me leave the table, when I left the restroom I began to feel light headed and had blurry vision. My mom asked "should we leave?" I said yes that would be a good idea. So my dad picked me up and carried me to one of the EMS people at the park and they put me in a wheel chair and we left the park straight for the hospital in Portsmouth screaming in the car because my stomach hurt so much we arrived at the hospital. In the emergency room they said my blood sugar was over 700, and that I had diabetes. When my mom found out she thought it was not possible because when I was five I was mis diagnosed with it. But this time it was real and my family and friend were so worried for me. I stayed in the hospital for a week and was told that i had to take Insulin with needles for the rest of my life. I said ok but when it came time to take my first shot by myself I held the needle above my left arm and cried. Now being 21 I'm more confident thanks to all the support I have been given

Bethany Burton
chesapeake, VA