On Tuesday, February 21^st, 14 kids living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) ascended the stairs of the Georgia State Capitol for the first ever Georgia Type 1 Diabetes Day. Their goal was to educate all of Georgia’s state legislators about life with T1D. Mission accomplished!

From 9am – 12pm, these amazing kids served as Pages, delivering notes from constituents and lobbyists to their assigned legislators. This was a great introduction to grassroots advocacy and how the voices of many can impact policy and affect change. During this time, the kids also had the opportunity to educate the wonderful ladies managing the Page program by requesting breaks to check blood sugars and administering insulin.

After a much needed break and lunch, generously provided by Medtronic, the kids were ready to address the Health and Human Services Committee. After the meeting originally scheduled for 2pm was pushed back to 3:30pm, they all learned a very valuable lesson about government: expect the unexpected! However, through the long wait, everyone was extraordinarily patient and had fun guessing what everyone else’s blood sugar was.

Finally, the big moment arrived! Donned in JDRF t-shirts, Lucy Brumbaugh, JD Murray, Will Epperson, and Jasmine Chatman, along with Dr. Jonathan Ownby from Atlanta Diabetes Associates and Trip Stoner, were called up to address the committee. Jasmine brilliantly described what life with T1D is like in terms of numbers, including the number times she’s pricked her finger and the number of days she hasn’t had to think about diabetes since she was diagnosed – zero.

Each person in the standing-room only room was captivated while one legislator shared his 40 year old daughter’s story of being diagnosed with T1D as a teenager.

We hope to make T1D Day at the Georgia State Capitol an annual event and are grateful to Doug and Trip Stoner (who also has T1D) for envisioning this event and for really making it happen. We are forever indebted to them for their kindness.

Thank you also to the parents and all the kids who participated.

Levi Barber (Macon)
Lucy Brumbaugh (Decatur)
Jasmine Chatman (Savannah)
Varun Devidas (Dunwoody)
Vanessa Enamorado  (Perry)
Will Epperson (Marietta)
Hayden Kirk (Atlanta)
Amanda Moore (John’s Creek)
Mary Morgan Collier (Athens)
JD Murray (Columbus)
Grace Neal (Columbus)
Elijah Thomas (Alpharetta)
Jason Soles (Dublin)
Olivia Yaughn (Byron)