Annie

From her mom, Dana:

Annie was diagnosed with type 1 when she was in kindergarten. When she was still in the hospital the staff wanted me to give her injection to her so I could practice-after all this was the start of the rest of her life. I can still see my little six year old standing there and I told her, “Annie just look away. Mommy has to give you this shot but you don’t look.” And she looked at me with her beautiful brown eyes and said, “Mommy you’ve got this! You’re going to do great.” She also told us after she got her first dose of insulin “I feel like myself again!” In a way her world was turned right side up that day. Annie continues to thrive and lives the best life she can while also managing diabetes. She’s a talented musician playing oboe in the youth symphony and her school band. She also plays the alto saxophone for her school marching band-which won state again this year. And she plays the piano and guitar for her church students ministry. She has been a formal advocate in the past for the American diabetes association and while that program was discontinued it doesn’t stop her from still sharing her story and raising awareness. She’s been a part of numerous research studies since diagnosis as she hopes to be apart of the cure — willing to do anything. A fun fact! She’s known as the kid who does one handed cartwheels with her IV in the other arm at the Barbara Davis center where she has been apart of those research studies. She hopes someday to say “I use to have type 1.” We all do.