Age: 13
Age at T1D diagnosis: 7

Grace is a straight-A student who enjoys playing volleyball, doing gymnastics and attending diabetes camp every summer. When she grows up she would like to be a doctor, and start her own bakery. Grace has no problem speaking in front of her class, or other groups, about what it’s like to live with T1D. She says, “Without diabetes I would be a totally different person. Diabetes has made me responsible, smart and logical.” Grace is also an avid JDRF One Walker, a Youth Ambassador for JDRF Ride and has met with her Representative to talk about the importance of funding for T1D research. “I hope someday that I will be able to live a mostly normal life without this disease weighing so heavily on my shoulders.”

Rock Island student advocates for diabetes funding on Capitol Hill / KWQCTV 6 / August 7, 2017