April T1D Faces of The Month

Even though ambitious 7-year-old Hayden is only one year into his Type 1 diagnosis, him and his family are already making waves in the community.Right before his 6th birthday, mom Jenn took Hayden to the doctor because he was acting extremely irritable and angry, he was having to pee more than 10 times a night, and he was guzzling water like it was nobody’s business. When they got to the doctor, they had him do a urine test, and Jenn thought they were testing for a UTI. The doctor came back and did a finger prick and the meter read HI. He took Jenn into the hall and told her that Hayden had Type 1 Diabetes and needed urgent treatment. Only a year into Hayden’s diagnosis, Hayden’s family started a company called Greater Than.  They are a lifestyle apparel brand who donate a portion of their proceeds to T1D research. They’ve had booths at Type One Nation summits, ADA walks, Padre Foundation events, and JDRF fundraisers, raising money for each. A portion of their proceeds also goes to Type 1 research at Dr Faustman’s labs in Boston, Massachusettes. Hayden just started using an Omnipod, and he’s loving not having to be poked multiple times a day to give his insulin. Jenn also thinks it’s given them better control over his blood sugars.Hayden has a whole crew of loyal supporters! These include his mom, Jenn, and stepfather Steven, his biological father and his fiancée, and Jenn’s parents who they’re grateful live nearby. Also can’t forget a whole zoo of pets! Hayden says, “Type 1 Diabetes doesn’t stop me from doing anything that I want to do. I can still play my video games, swim, run 5ks and eat ice cream. I’m still Hayden.”

44-year-old Lynette, from Maine, was only 6 when she was diagnosed with Type 1. She was sick with bronchitis, and wasn’t getting any better. She was losing weight, wasn’t eating, and was drinking and urinating a lot. She was in kindergarten at the time, and her parents brought her to the pediatricians. Before she knew it she was in the ER having blood drawn and being loaded with insulin. Her blood sugar was almost at 700 mg/dl. Lynette just celebrated her 38th diaversary on February 14, 2018. In the past few years she has started doing the JDRF One Walk, and loves the sense of community and unity she gets when she’s there surrounded by other Type 1 families. She’s been using an insulin pump for 10 years, and just recently started using the Medtronic 670g pump and CGM closed loop system. When asked about her biggest supporters, she said, “Hands down my husband Rob.” She continued, “I can't even begin to count how many times in 18 years of marriage that man has been woken up in the night by a cgm alarm or me asking for juice to treat a low. He's the best!” Lynette says that T1D doesn’t stop her from living her best life now. She elaborates, “Yes, I'm a diabetic but that's just a part of what makes me, me. I'm also a wife, a mom, I have a close knit family, amazing friends, a great career. There are good days and bad days, and I have learned not to beat myself up about a bad day. Even after 38 years there's trial and error in this T1D life and if I've learned anything it's this; I can choose to be in control my diabetes or it can be in control of me. It's a balancing act but I will not let diabetes win.”

15-year-old Macey was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 13 months old. She’s really lived most of her life with it! She received the MMR vaccine, and two days later came the excessive thirst and peeing. At the time, her parents were in contact with her doctor who misdiagnosed her, saying it was a reaction to the vaccine. Well, a week later she was lethargic and close to a diabetic coma! She was in the ICU for 4 days as her parents were taught how to take care of her. They started Macey’s Believers as a walk team to raise money for JDRF, and have raised over $170,000.00! Now Macey’s Believers has grown into a non-profit, raising money for research, and to help families with who can’t afford to attend the Friends For Life Confetence by Children With Diabetes in Orlando every year. They’ve been attending the conference since 2005, and Macey says it’s the best! She is grateful for her friends and family who are always there for her. Macey says, “A positive that has come out of T1D is that I appreciate every day!”

22 year old Hunter, from Florida, was 6 when she was diagnosed with Type 1. She was a little gymnast, and her parents recognized the classic symptoms very quickly. Because she was a gymnast the time, she was burning off a lot of the glucose in her workouts so the symptoms weren’t very noticeable until her body couldn’t handle it anymore. Her parents took her to the pediatrician, and luckily he was familiar with Type 1 and knew to test her blood sugar, which was 400. She spent the next 4 days in the ICU. Hunter has been attending and volunteering at the Friends for Life by Children With Diabetes conference since 2003. She also does JDRF fundraisers, and did the Walk to Cure Diabetes Children’s Congress in 2009, where she and some other Type 1 kids got to meet former President Obama, Nick Jonas, and Mary Tyler Moore. She is supported by being on the Open APS Loop System with her pump and CGM, but is also supported by Abby and Sadie, who are both trained service dogs! Her biggest supporters are also her mom and her dad.  Hunter says, “A positive that has come out of T1D is the people it has introduced me to! Because of diabetes, I have these incredible people in my life  - an extended family - who are all there for me no matter what, and I can’t be anymore thankful for them.”

11-year-old Hannah was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes 4 years ago. She was sick for a few days, and her doctor did a blood test which revealed a high blood sugar. Now she uses an Omnipod insulin pump. Hannah led and organized a JDRF kids walk at her school, raising over 5000$! She is a youth ambassador for her JDRF chapter. But her favorite diabetes-related activity is the Friends for Life conference by Children With Diabetes that is organized every summer. Her biggest supporters are her family and friends, and her 3 pets; two dogs named Jasmine and Joe (aka “Joe Bear”), and a cat named Molly. Hannah says, “T1D doesn't stop me from doing the things I love. I love art and theater and noone can stop me from doing those things!”