Brandon H Ohio Native

“After interviewing many hospitals, close and far from home, we were most impressed by PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital”

Ohio Teen Credits Children’s Specialized Diabetes Program as a Turning Point in His Life

Brandon playingBrandon Holycross from West Liberty, Ohio walked around PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick with a constant smile on his face during his stay. His outgoing personality and positive outlook kept him going every day.

Three years ago, Brandon’s life dramatically changed when he began experiencing alarming symptoms at football practice, which sent him into the hospital immediately. After the doctors performed tests, he found that his blood glucose levels were at a dangerously high level of 938 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), when a person’s blood glucose range should be in the low to mid 100s after a random test. Blood glucose levels over 600 mg/dL are extremely dangerous and can lead to a diabetic coma and even death.

Brandon’s doctors in Ohio treated him for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which develops when your body is unable to produce enough insulin. Battling DKA is often the first sign of type 1 diabetes in people, like Brandon.

Brandon and his mother“It’s hard to take it all in,” said Brandon’s mother, Karrie Holycross. “For awhile, I was in shock that my son is battling a life-long disease. It has been a long three years.”

Brandon must take insulin in order to control his glucose levels, yet he saw this task as a hassle and ended up brushing it off. Because he did not take his insulin in the past three years, Brandon was hospitalized for DKA four times, for two to three weeks at a time. This large number of hospitalizations in a short period of time is considered a chronic illness, which the doctors and therapists of PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital work diligently to control, by providing Brandon with the care, and education, that he needs.

Brandon’s doctor in Ohio thought it was necessary for him to seek help in recovering and getting back in the right mindset to properly care for his condition. She recommended many hospitals with programs that could benefit Brandon, PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital’s inpatient diabetes program in New Brunswick was at the top of the list.

PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital’s inpatient diabetes program is dedicated to providing patients with the best possible experience, which helps them feel like they are staying at a home, away from home. Doctors and therapists monitor their patient’s blood glucose levels 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, which allows them to make accurate changes in their insulin dosing. Diabetes education is a large part of the inpatient program and provides patients and family members with information from a certified diabetes educator, a pharmacist and a clinical dietician. PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital also offers a personalized experience for each patient; offering trips to restaurants, cooking classes, and individualized exercise programs that are based on the patient’s preferences so these learned activities can be continued at home.

Brandon doing therapyThis personalized treatment is crucial for providing Brandon with a successful recovery plan due to his history of incorrectly caring for his diabetes. Brandon needs to be offered a convenient plan that he will not be hassled to continue at home, which PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital can provide.

“After interviewing many hospitals, close and far from home, we were most impressed by PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital,” said Karrie. “Traveling ten hours away from home was not even a concern if it meant getting my son the quality help he needed.”

After two weeks of intensive therapy at PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital, Brandon has greatly improved. To monitor his results, he takes an A1C blood test, which is a test that provides information about his average levels of blood glucose over the past three months. The results give him a good idea of how well his diabetes treatment plan is working. An A1C result around 7 percent is ideal, but varies from patient to patient.

When Brandon first arrived at PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital, he had an A1C of 14.8 percent, which was off the charts. After a few weeks of working with the doctors and therapists, Brandon has shown incredible progress as his A1C dropped to 10.8 percent.

Depending on Brandon’s blood glucose levels prior to exercising, he participated in a variety of exercises and activities during his stay. These included aerobic endurance exercises, circuit training and strength training to help train his muscles to use insulin more efficiently.

“The focus during therapy sessions is to perform exercises or activities that Brandon will be able to carry over and perform on a regular basis in order to independently manage his blood glucose levels upon discharge,” said Brandon’s physical therapist, Erin Mattia. “Brandon is very eager to learn about exercises to perform at home and education regarding his diabetes which makes working with him very enjoyable.”

“Since I started therapy I feel like I have more energy and I am emotionally happier and healthier,” said Brandon. “My team at PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital has given me the tools to improve so this process is no longer a hassle.”

Brandon’s parents and grandparents were his number one motivators during this whole process and helped him progress every day. Brandon is currently at home, continuing to play his favorite sports and is looking forward to graduating high school and going to college, where he plans to play basketball and major in graphic design.

With the help of PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital, Brandon is taking control of his diabetes and won’t let it get in the way of perusing his dreams.