Parenthood is a journey of love and patience—oftentimes of unexpected challenges.
For Jennifer Linga, this journey took an unanticipated turn when her son, six-year-old Neo Eliseo, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just two years old.
Jennifer shared her heartfelt story of navigating the complexities of raising a child with a lifelong condition with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during the #Type1Story Campaign by Watsons at the Craft Academy in Ayala Malls Manila Bay on December 4, 2024.
A BATTLE FOR NEO’S LIFE
Jennifer recounted the moment she first realized something was wrong with Neo.
“He was showing yung, the 4 T’s, yung tired, thinner, yung sobrang payat, tapos ihi nang ihi, parang uhaw na uhaw, tapos bumaba nang sobra yung katawan niya. Sobrang thin talaga.”
She was referring to the 4 T’s of Type 1 diabetes symptoms: tired, thinner, toilet (frequent urination), and thirsty.
Initially misdiagnosed with asthma in the emergency room during the pandemic, Neo’s condition deteriorated until a manual blood sugar test revealed a shocking result.
“Pagka-prick po kay Neo, his blood sugar was five-hundred plus, so the normal was around eighty-five to one-hundred twenty.”
This led to Neo being rushed to the ICU, where he fell into a diabetic coma that lasted more than two days.
For Jennifer and her husband, those moments in the ICU were agonizing.
“For the first twenty-four hours, tinapat na kami ng specialist namin, ng doctor namin na hindi nagrerespond yung insulin ng bata, and then we really need a miracle for him,” she said.
Their prayers were answered when Neo’s blood sugar levels began to normalize, eventually leading to his recovery from the coma.
RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT TYPE-1 DIABETES
Jennifer acknowledged how little she and her family knew about Type-1 diabetes prior to Neo’s diagnosis.
“No one in our family was diabetic. Hindi rin ako nagkaroon ng gestational diabetes, wala sa both sides,” she explained.
The lack of awareness prompted Jennifer to take proactive steps, not only to manage Neo’s condition but also to educate others.
She and her husband created social media pages, including “Sweetventures ni Neo Eliseo” and the group “Type 1 Diabetes Parents PH” to document their journey and connect with other parents.
“Hindi namin akalain na aabot ng 900 yung members namin,” Jennifer said.
“Kasi dito sa Pilipinas, unfortunately, minsan nami-misdiagnose pa rin ang Type 1 diabetes.
"May mga bata pong namamatay,” she shared, urging parents to seek immediate medical attention if they notice these symptoms in their children.
A LIFE OF RESILIENCE AND LOVE
Managing Neo’s condition has been both challenging and inspiring for Jennifer.
“It was very overwhelming, challenging, pero, at the same time, kailangan mong maging resilient kasi kapag ikaw sumuko ka na, kawawa yung anak mo,” she said.
Despite the costs and complexities of Type 1 diabetes management, Jennifer ensured that Neo would live a full and joyful life.
“Wala naman siyang restriction when it comes to food intake… overall, he can eat whatever he wants as long as tatapatan namin ng insulin yung food intake niya,” she explained.
Neo participates in school activities and contests, ensuring he doesn’t feel left out or different.
“Para hindi niya maiisip na kawawa siya na hindi siya nakakasali sa gano’n,” Jennifer shared.
Jennifer’s story is a testament to a mother’s unwavering love and resilience.
Through her advocacy and commitment to raising awareness about Type 1 diabetes, she hopes to prevent other families from experiencing the same fear and uncertainty she once faced.
For Jennifer and Neo, each day is a step forward, filled with hope, determination, and the belief that nothing is impossible with faith and support.
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