Age: 17
Age at T1D diagnosis: 8

Alyssa was diagnosed with T1D at age 8, she recalls being confused when her mom picked her up from school and took her to the hospital. She didn’t understand why she was being injected with insulin after each meal until she was told she had T1D and would need to manage it for the rest of her life. Since then, Alyssa has learned to live with the condition and overcome its challenges—which she does! She’s enjoys gymnastics, swimming, reading, and writing.

Alyssa has actively promoted T1D awareness by attending Breakthrough T1D events in her native Australia Kids in the House, including Walks, meetings with federal politicians, and sharing her story in local newspapers. Representing Australia at the Children’s Congress in Washington, D.C., is an incredible honor, and she hopes to advocate for better T1D care for all Australians. Alyssa believes advancements in T1D research and technology are crucial for making life easier. She hopes that one day, research will lead to a cure.