Age: 12
Age at T1D diagnosis: 5

At 12 years old, Anna is already a seasoned veteran of the Washington, D.C., scene. She and her family have discussed T1D with politicians including former Senator Sam Brownback, Representative Lynn Jenkins, and Representative Kevin Yoder. Yet her work is only just beginning. At Children’s Congress, she plans “to let everyone know that I might have type 1 diabetes, but type 1 diabetes doesn’t have me. With everyone’s help, we can stop this!”

Type 1 diabetes volunteer work is another favorite family activity. Anna’s mom serves on committees for JDRF’s Dream Gala and the Walk, while her dad is on the board of directors for the Kansas City Chapter. In addition to her advocacy, Anna is on four competitive dance teams and hopes to dance professionally one day.