Australian Survivor star Nick Iadanza recalls horror moment his one-year-old daughter was moments from death

Australian Survivor star Nick Iadanza has opened up about the ‘scariest’ night of his life that saw his one-year-old rushed to hospital.

Australian Survivor star Nick Iadanza has opened up about the heartbreaking moment he feared his babygirl was moments from death.

The lives of Iadanza and his wife changed almost overnight when their one-year-old daughter, Florence, almost fell into a diabetic coma out of the blue.

She was being babysat by her grandma when she suddenly began to struggle to breathe, and then the race was on to save her.

“She had gone completely grey,” the father-of-three told The Advertiser.

“She was gasping for breath and shaking … she started vomiting all over her room and my mother-in-law. It was the scariest night of our life.”

Former Survivor star Nick Iadanza with wife Christine, and their eldest children, Atticus and Paloma. Picture: Supplied.

Iadanza and his wife, Christina, rushed to their daughter’s side before heading to the hospital, where doctors realised she was about to fall into a diabetic coma.

“The utter helplessness of this small child that can’t verbalise,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way she looked that night … I hate the thought of any parent going through that. We tell everyone now, with young kids, the signs to look out for.”

Even more heartbreakingly, the couple had suspected their baby could be diabetic and had booked an appointment with their GP that they were set to attend just 48 hours later.

When she arrived at the hospital, doctors said her blood sugar level was so high it was “immeasurable”.

Iadanza with his one year old daughter Florence. Picture: Instagram.

Florence is now coping much better following treatment. Picture: Instagram.

“She was right there on death’s door,” Iadanza said.

After a taut 30 minutes where it was touch and go, doctors were successful in getting insulin into Florence and she was transferred to ICU.

“Not only are you trying to grapple with the immediacy of what’s happening in this moment but you’re also trying to grapple with the longevity of what’s going to happen, 10, 20 years down the track,” Iadanza said.

“It was such a weird feeling because I was so in the moment with her … but I was being ripped into two places like her uncertain future and her uncertain present. It was a really surreal feeling.”

Thankfully, Florence made a full recovery from that fateful night. However, her family have since been adjusting to their new normal when it comes to making sure her treatment regimen is kept up with.

For a while she was forced to undergo five injections daily, before her treatment was switched over to a patch that supplies her with insulin when required.

“She’s taken to it like a duck to water,” Iadanza added.

“She’ll proudly lift up her stomach when you say, where’s your pump? And she’ll tap it and smile.”

Originally published as Australian Survivor star Nick Iadanza recalls horror moment his one-year-old daughter was moments from death