Age: 10
Age at T1D diagnosis: 8

Savannah was diagnosed in April 2024, just before her she turned 9 years old and it took her whole family by surprise. However, she does not let it define her—much less stop her from playing sports or being the highly social girl she is. Two weeks after diagnosis, she was giving herself her shots (in front of her friends, too) of insulin as she was running out the door to play with a friend or go to a soccer game.

Kind and caring, tough but sensitive, outgoing and funny, always willing to make a new friend, athletic and determined; these are some of the best words to describe Savannah! Her love for soccer is inspiring and exciting. In fact, she played in a soccer tournament hours away from home the weekend after her diagnosis! (And nobody would have known she just spent four days in the hospital getting poked with needles over and over.) Her passion and dedication are so strong that she hopes to play professional soccer and be like Lionel Messi when she grows up.