Georgie

Georgie, a Partial Central Diabetes Insipidus Warrior

Georgie is our 2-year-old little spitfire! She was diagnosed with Partial Central Diabetes Insipidus (CDI) when she was 15 months old. Georgie's pituitary gland does not produce enough of the ADH hormone that regulates the amount of water and salt in her body. This results in Georgie having an unquenchable thirst all the time. Unmedicated, Georgie will drink over 100 oz of water and put out 4 quarts of urine. Before her diagnosis, she would wake up every 15 minutes throughout the night screaming for water and require 4 diaper changes at night, often still flooding the bed. 

To get a Diabetes Insipidus diagnosis, Georgie had to go through a water deprivation test. She was admitted to the PICU and not allowed any food or water for 6 hours. This is a very dangerous test for children with this condition. She had to be weighed every hour and have blood and urine tests every hour to ensure she wasn't going into crisis. By the last 2 hours of her test, Georgie was inconsolable. This test is like torture for someone with Diabetes Insipidus. Once her diagnosis was confirmed, we were able to move forward with medicine to help her.

Pituitary tumors are one of the most common causes of CDI. In August, Georgie had a brain MRI that confirmed she does not have a brain tumor, thank God! Her case is considered idiopathic, and there is a slight chance she may grow out of it over time.

Over the last year, we've gone through some trial and error and finally have a proper medication solution. Georgie receives a synthetic hormone injection each night that allows her body to regulate water and sodium and gives her some relief from the constant thirst.

Georgie is the funniest, most opinionated light in our lives. Even with all the doctor's visits, needle sticks, and testing, she's always trying to make us laugh. Georgie is also our miracle IVF baby due to my Intermediate Fragile X diagnosis.