margo

I know you’re wondering “what parent allows their child to travel out of state when they were just diagnosed with a chronic illness that the child barely knows how to manage?”. And to be fair, the doctors we spoke to during my hospitalization advised against the trip. But I was determined to be a “normal” 8th grader and refused to be left out of the fun (also my parents had already paid for me to go AND my family was also planning on going out to DC at the same time since my sister and I had the same spring break and my cousins live in the DC area)!! So I went on the spring break class trip! I knew the basics of how to care for my diabetes and what to do in an emergency situation. I could calculate my own carbs, bolus for meals, treat high and low blood sugars, etc. I was decently self sufficient by the time I had to leave for the trip. Our family friend who was also my dance teacher & second mom was a chaperone on the trip (her daughter was in my class). My mom & I gave her a whole crash course of how to care for me and what to do in an emergency situation. Every chaperone was made aware of my recent diagnosis and I had all of their phone numbers in case of emergency. There were lots of safety measures in place. 

While it probably wasn’t the most responsible thing I could’ve done, it was the right thing to do in my opinion. I knew how to care for myself. I taught my friends, who were also my room mates, how to use my meter and what to do if I became unresponsive. All of the chaperones were made aware of my diagnosis and who to contact in case of an emergency or any complication/assistance. One chaperone was trained to manage my diabetes. My parents were within the same city and only a phone call away. I slept in the same room as our family friend and returned to “my room” with my friends every morning. I messaged my mom after every meal to make sure I was doing my insulin calculations correctly. I carried, organized, and managed all of my medical supplies. 

Margo Hood

Common Application Essay

Fall 2018

“My Dead Pancreas”

March 16, 2015, started off as a normal Monday. I attended school, then my mom picked me up for my yearly well check. ​I didn't think much of it. I was healthy, hardly ever got sick, and felt fine. It was the normal routine: the nurses checked my height, weight, and collected a urine sample from me. My doctor had just started checking my vital signs when a nurse came in stating that she found sugar in my urine. The nurse then checked my blood glucose and the readings were alarmingly high. My doctor exited the room and called Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He came back and said that the Emergency Room was expecting us. After hours of medical tests and waiting in the Emergency Room, the doctor determined that I had developed Type One Diabetes (T1D).

Receiving the news that your pancreas has died is just as devastating as losing a best friend you never knew you had; you never know how much it means to you until it’s gone. Living with a dead pancreas is not fun. It requires lots of finger pricks, injections, math, weird suntan lines caused by medical devices, and educating those around you of the disease. There is no cure for T1D. I’m stuck with this dead pancreas forever.

When I was first diagnosed, I felt powerless. I didn’t choose or ask to have a dead pancreas, God handed it to me on a silver platter and said, “Enjoy your new life.” It felt like I had returned from the dead. My classmates looked at me as if I were a completely different person. They didn’t understand how one small mistake in an insulin dosage could lead to my death. They just thought I was that crazy girl who talked too much about her disability.

Regardless of what others thought of me, I was determined to retake control of my life. I had to relearn how to love and accept myself. I embraced the tiny spots on my fingertips from finger pricks. I learned to love the scars that my continual glucose monitor sensors and insulin pump sites left behind. I forced myself to use my voice to advocate for a cure and raise awareness about Type One Diabetes.

I didn’t truly learn how to love my diabetes until I became a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Youth Ambassador. Meeting people who were not only around my age but also were fighting the same battle as I was motivated me. I wanted to get involved in the diabetes community more. It made me realize that diabetes is both the ugliest and most beautiful gift that I’ve ever received. Without it, I would not have met some of the amazing and brave people I call my friends. I would not have been able to participate in or know of amazing fundraisers such as JDRF’s annual Cincinnatian Of The Year Gala or American Diabetes Association’s Tour De Cure. I would not have found my voice if it weren't for T1D.

I want to be a nurse (BSN) and Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) so I can teach newly diagnosed diabetics about their disorder and teach them that diabetes isn’t a burden. I want to teach them that diabetes does not define them; they are stronger than their disorder. But most importantly, I want to educate people around me about diabetes. I want to end the stigma that surrounds this often misunderstood disease.

I was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive type) when I was in kindergarten. • Fun fact: there are 3 different types of ADHD: -inattentive (formally called ADD) -hyperactive -combined • Here’s a list of things I do to help my ADHD that just make sense✨

Color code my planner and calendar!

I put all of my school assignments in my planner and all of my personal plans/responsibilities on my calendar. In my planner, each class is assigned a color. I put all of my homework, tests, quizzes, etc on the month overview and day-to-day tasks on the weekly pages. I plan out what assignments I’m going to do on what day at the beginning of each week, so I know what’s going on during the week and I don’t have to worry about missing anything. I mainly use my wall calendar to keep track of my work schedule, doctor’s appointments, site changes, and when I hang out with my friends.

Label things and organizing with containers!

Labeling things helps me stay organized and find things quickly. Containers keep my drawers relatively mess-free. I wrap my chords with rainbow loom bands leftover from my middle school days.

Listening to music!

I love having music playing in the background while I study or do work because it helps me focus. I prefer listening to a CD or record because then I can’t skip through my song library constantly like I can on Spotify. With CDs and vinyl records, I’m limited to what I own. My CD player does have Bluetooth. I like to connect my phone and listen to my Spotify when I’m relaxing or doing something not important (ie: cleaning, painting).

Finding ways to visualize things!

I think everyone in anatomy should buy a plastic skull at Halloween (I got mine at target for ~$10). Labeling and drawing out things helps me learn and understand things better than flashcards. It’s easier for me to look at a skull and memorize all of the facial bones than try to memorize where a bone is based on description alone.