Kycie Terry's road to recovery

The journey to recovery began in the Neuro -Trauma Unit of Primary Children's Medical Center (PCMC) for Kycie Jai Terry as she started a tough road to recovery. Little Kycie endured months of physical therapy and rehabilitation to get stronger. Kycie, as you already know, had misdiagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus and suffered a severe brain injury caused by diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

She required 24/7 care around the clock, from eating (Kycie now had a g-tube in her stomach since she couldn't eat without help), getting her sugar (glucose) levels checked, walking, talking and just the simple things in life that we all take for granted. Kycie was a fighter and she was soon able to get through 111 days of physical therapy.

Kycie was also being fed through a tube in her nose that went all the way to her stomach for much needed nutrients. Overwhelmed with the new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, it's unpredictable sugar swings, shots and glucose checks, Josh and Jamie were dealing with the even more daunting fact that their little princess now has a severe traumatic brain injury.

Kycie's parents live in St. George, Utah which is located 310 south to Primary Children's Hospital. Josh and Jamie Terry decided from the beginning that they would never leave Kycie alone. Josh would drive to the hospital every weekend and back to southern Utah during the work week while Jamie stayed by Kycie's side.

After 111 days of physical therapy, Kycie finally went home to a heroes welcome. She was back home from the hospital and reunited with her family and brothers.

After 111 days of intensive physical therapy, Kycie was finally able to go home. Kycie was welcomed back home by her entire community and the friends and family of the Terry family. The entire community, including the fire department and police department came to welcome Kycie with a warm hero's welcome. On May 14th, 2015 Kycie was discharged from the hospital and able to go back home.

When Kycie was discharged the doctors told her parents that their number one concern for Kycie should be pneumonia. After only 5 weeks of being home, Kycie came down with a cold. She was admitted to the St. George hospital on June 30th and was lifeflighted back to Primary Children's Hospital that same day.

Pneumonia kept Kycie hospitalized for just over a week. She slowly got stronger and on July 8th Kycie had recovered enough to be released and come back home. She was only at her earthly home for another 3 days before passing away on July 11th, 2015 in her fathers arms with her mother by her side. Kycie Jai was 5 years old when she died.

Kycie Jai Terry story~Type 1 Diabetes

Kycie Jai Terry

October 11, 2009 - July 11, 2015 (5 years old)

This is the story of a brave little girl, her name is Kycie. The always happy, silly, energetic, and funloving girl who had enjoyed dancing and doing gymnastics soon became a victim of Type 1 Diabetes. Her story has forever touched my heart and her legacy will live on forever. Follow their journey on their blog at http://www.kissesforkycie.com

October 11, 2009 ~ #loveyoumostestinfinity

Kycie Jai Terry, the daughter of Josh and Jamie Terry graced this world in Bullhead City, Arizona. In 2010 they moved to St. George, Utah. Finally, after having 4 boys, the Terry family was blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Kycie was the youngest of 4 brothers Bryton, Treyton, Keaton, and Daxton, and, in 2013, the Terry family brought another boy into the family, his name is Boston, but Kycie calls him "my baby."

Kycie was the youngest of 4 boys, her brothers Bryton, Treyton, Keaton, and Daxton, and the youngest Boston. All were loved and cherished. The Terry family was complete.

2015 was looking bright for Kycie, she got her first dog and did some competitive cheerleading.

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Kycie had always wanted a puppy and after years of begging her parents to get her one, she finally got the gift she had been asking for. She was busy playing with her puppy and preparing for her first year of competitive cheerleading as well.

 One day, however, (Sunday) after church, Kycie had complained of a headache. The next day she stayed home from preschool after she threw up and didn't feel good. She didn't wanna go to school which was quite unusual because she always wanted to go to school even if she was sick, so this was concerning.

Tuesday she wouldn't eat and would only sip on Sprite and water, also complaining that her tummy was hurting. By Wednesday Kycie was seen by a doctor and diagnosed with strep throat. Thursday night her parents had noticed that she had lost a lot of weight while bathing her.

She was also throwing up several times through the night. On Friday, January 30th, Kycie's parents took her to the ER (emergency room) in St. George, Utah (Dixie Regional Medical Center). That's when they got the devastating diagnosis...Type 1 Diabetes. Kycie was being life-flighted 310 miles north to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

While in flight, Kycie's blood sugar levels began to drop rapidly. Kycie and her mother landed in Salt Lake City around 6:00 pm.  Shortly after boarding the ambulance, 5 minutes into the ride, Kycie suffered a seizure. She had another seizure just upon arrival at Primary Children's Hospital (PCH) in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

At first, her parents thought Kycie was in a diabetic coma and expected her to wake up any minute. After 12 hours, 24 hours, still no progress doctors did an MRI. On Sunday, February 1st doctors told Josh and Jamie Terry that the MRI showed extensive damage to critical areas of Kycie's brain.

 Most kids do not survive an injury like this, and those that do have little to no quality of life.

The MRI showed that complications from Type 1 Diabetes caused cerebral edema, resulting in a herniation of her brain and injuring many critical areas of her brain. It is expected that Kycie will have little to no quality of life.

Her parents were devastated and spent the next 8 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit praying and encouraging Kycie to fight. They vowed that as long as she fights, they will fight with her.

But...Kycie is a fighter...she surprised everyone and was able to breathe without the help of a ventilator and didn't need a tracheotomy. She was moved to the Neuro-Trauma unit where she began a long and painful recovery.