Age: 16
Age at T1D diagnosis: 9

Portia loves to spend every ounce of her free time at the beach. She is a sophomore in high school who is looking forward to getting her license! She loves spending time with her cousins, watching movies, and playing board games. Portia is a high honors student in the Honors Program at New Hampshire’s largest high school. Her dream job would be to help pediatric patients manage their diabetes.

Portia was diagnosed with T1D, as well as celiac disease and hypothyroidism, on Memorial Day six years ago. She was visiting her new baby cousin in Washington, DC, when her parents had to end the trip early because she had many signs of T1D. They flew home and stayed in the hospital, where she was visited by lots of family and friends. Portia works hard every day to manage her blood sugar so that she can prove to her parents she will be able to handle life outside of high school.