He knew it was coming since Animas gave us a call the day it was shipped. When he finally got to open the package, the following day, I could not believe the glow on his face, the size of his smile.
It is just a pump, an insulin pump, not much different from the old one – it is even the same colour. I did not get it, but he was like a child in a candy store – very, very excited!
Since he was dying to see how the new pump works, we agreed to
put the battery in and test run it only - on the PENGUIN.
We would connect it up and let Mr T start using it properly over
the coming weekend.
It was amazing to see how comfortably, quickly and skilfully he went
through the menus commenting along the way:
aha they changed this…. aaaaa this is here now…oh, look at this ….
Although I am still the PPO [Primary Pump Operator] I could not
keep up with his speed.
Put the ten year old and a new gadget in the same room and half an hour later the gadget
has been “cracked”. You know what I mean – he knows all there is to know about it.
I can now highly recommend re-reading the manuals. I reckon on the first read we choose to remember the most important bits. If you then read the manual again after having used the gadget for some time, the new information will just jump out and stick much easier.
Anyway, with all the NEW understanding of the manual and further help from the wonderful pump rep, I was able to set the new pump up and Mr T was connected, with my confidence high, two days before the weekend. I still made sure that we had enough time to see the effects of the boluses before he went to bed.
With the old Animas 2020 pump one needed to keep pressing the UP button until the dose of insulin to be given was matched with the suggested amount of insulin as calculated by the pump.
With the VIBE, matching the dose with the calculated one happens as soon as you touch the UP button once.
It is a very cool new feature and it would save some more play time for Mr T, BUT he needs to get used to it. If he forgets how it works he will be likely to overshoot the number and then he would spend more time getting back to it.
Mr T – Lets say I am having 30 carbs, and my BG is 8.3 …. show result…. and look now Mom –
JUST ONE PRESS ON THIS BUTTON MATCHES THE INSULIN PUMP CALCULATED FOR ME. :)
Me - How did you know that?
Mr T – Mom, don’t you remember, the rep showed me that at the Walk to Cure Diabetes!
I did remember, vaguely. That was back in October, over four months ago. I did not think he would still remember it.
I am so glad he has such a keen eye,
the memory of an elephant and
a healthy relationship with his pump......
......for now.