Naomi Kolozsy

I found out I had type 1 diabetes when I was starting college. I was told I wouldn’t be able to have children and that I shouldn’t expect to live past 40.

Obviously that wasn’t the best thing to hear, but we now know that people with type 1 diabetes can and do thrive and can live long and healthy lives. I am now 39 and have two healthy and beautiful children. I have worked hard to take care of myself and to be diligent about my care.

As each year passes, I feel like I’ve hit an invisible achievement. It doesn’t look like others’ achievements of promotions or marathons or whatever. Keeping myself alive is a bigger challenge than most people realize, so why would anyone congratulate me on it? But it takes a significant amount of effort on my part.

As simple as this coin may be, it’s meaningful to me to have someone acknowledge the years of dedication and work I’ve put in that nobody sees. Thank you, genuinely.