Age: 4
Age at T1D diagnosis: 8 months

It’s tough to find a 4-year-old boy as resilient and strong as RJ. When he was diagnosed with T1D at just 8 months old, he and his parents swiftly adapted to their new routine. As RJ’s mom says, “he wakes up with a smile everyday, which allows me to be thankful and honored to be a part of this roller coaster ride with him.” RJ also has an impressive list of activities for someone so young. At such a young age, he attends a weekly STEM class, spends his time learning Spanish, playing soccer, reading, dancing and painting. He and his mom are excited to attend Children’s Congress this year and tell their Members of Congress why T1D research is so important.