Meet Your 2015 Children’s Congress Delegates

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The type 1 diabetes (T1D) community learns early on that age is simply no barrier when it comes to making a difference. Every two years, held in Washington, D.C., JDRF’s Children’s Congress gives children between the ages of 4 and 17 the opportunity to personally show their Congressional Members just how they feel about living with T1D and their daily struggles. Then they can ask their Members of Congress to do something about it! This passionate group of advocates inspires us all. We proudly introduce you to the 2015 JDRF Northwest Chapter Children’s Congress Delegates:

 

Brynn BRYNN
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Age: 8
Age at T1D diagnosis: 1

Living with T1D for Brynn is a family affair: Both her father and her older sister also have the disease. Spreading awareness is a group effort, too. Brynn and her family attend the yearly JDRF Walk, as well as JDRF’s Tee Off for a Cure and the Camp Stix auction, which raises funds for kids with T1D to attend summer camp. “I have no idea of life before diabetes,” says Brynn, who was diagnosed at age 1. “I have always had to poke my fingers, count carbs and give insulin.” But Brynn also has outside interests. She loves playing with My Little Ponies and Monster High games, and is an accomplished tap and jazz dancer. (In fact, each year, she dances in a recital in front of hundreds of people!)

CarolineCAROLINE
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Age: 17
Age at T1D diagnosis: 7

Caroline is involved in her community as a tutor for second graders, a volunteer at a senior residence and through her work with the JDRF Northwest Chapter. As a student ambassador at her school, she recruits prospective eighth graders. As a Teen Ambassador for the Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes, she helms Pump It Up for Caroline, a team consisting of family and friends, which has raised more than $100,000 in seven years. While looking ahead to college, Caroline notes having T1D presents extra challenges in her junior year, such as how her blood sugar will behave during taking the SATs. “The strides that have been made in even the past two years have been even more groundbreaking,” says Caroline, “I hope to soon experience these technologies for myself someday soon.”

HannahHANNAH
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Age: 14
Age at T1D diagnosis: 10

Hannah overcame the initial impact of being diagnosed with T1D to develop an impressive advocacy effort. She recalls “I was shocked at first, especially when I found out I was going to have multiple shots/injections.” Yet Hannah and her family turned to JDRF. She has since served as a JDRF Youth Ambassador, participated in several clinical trials, raised more than $14,000 for her JDRF Walk and has even appeared in local media. Yet, as she puts it, “diabetes is just one piece of me.” From crocheting, painting and other crafts to training her dog in 4–H, Hannah boasts a wide range of interests. Her reason for attending this year’s JDRF Children’s Congress is simply to “help Congress understand how they can help turn Type One into Type None.”

Jackson JACKSON
Hometown: Everett, WA
Age: 12
Age at T1D diagnosis: 2

Jackson has lived with T1D for a decade now and, today, he wants one thing: freedom. “I want freedom to be a kid and enjoy life without the 24–hour–a–day, seven–day–a–week job of managing type 1 diabetes,” he says. He’s already fighting for that freedom. Jackson speaks about T1D as a JDRF Youth Ambassador and as a member of student government at his school. He helps his mom with her diabetes support group, and has even appeared in a commercial for a Washington state governor. He plays not just premier soccer, baseball and lacrosse—but also tuba and trumpet. “I want to be a role model for other kids and show them even if you have a hardship in life you can beat it and be anything you want to be,” he says.

KalebKALEB
Hometown: Wasilla, AK
Age: 6
Age at T1D diagnosis: 2

One of the younger delegates, Kaleb wrote a beautiful, handwritten note explaining what a T1D cure would mean to him: “Please help find a cure. That would be the best day of my life. I know it takes money, but trust me, it is worth it!” Kaleb is familiar with T1D’s daily struggles. The disease runs in his family: his grandfather and father both have T1D, and Kaleb’s older brother participated in a study before Kaleb was born. Kaleb even participated in a trial as a baby himself. T1D can often be frustrating, he says. “Diabetes hurts. I get so mad at diabetes, sometimes I ninja–kick my pillow!” Yet he doesn’t let T1D hold him back: Kaleb plays basketball and soccer, is learning how to downhill ski and has even won running awards.

MakailaMAKAILA
Hometown: Maple Valley, WA
Age: 15
Age at T1D diagnosis: 1

Makaila is very mindful of the burdens of T1D—her father has the disease and she was diagnosed at just 16 months old. She explains, “Diabetes doesn’t just take a toll on your physical health, but on your mental health as well. I must act as my own personal doctor, mathematician and counselor.” That hasn’t stopped Makaila from participating in JDRF Walks, teaming with local businesses and meeting with her Congressional District’s Representative during the most recent JDRF Promise to Remember Me campaign. In fact, over the years she has helped raise more than $20,000 for T1D research—but she’s not done yet. “I will continue to fight by supporting JDRF, by educating those around me and living my life to the best of my ability,” Makaila says. “Diabetes is my diagnosis, it is not my destiny.”

PaigePAIGE
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Age: 11
Age at T1D diagnosis: 8

“I find that when I am creating, I feel most comfortable,” says Paige. Drawing, painting, and writing songs, skits and plays are just some of the special ways Paige taps into her creativity. She has even used her talents to spread awareness of T1D, by putting together presentations and creating public service announcements about the disease for her school. While she admits she can sometimes feel shy, “Talking about T1D makes me feel passionate and knowledgeable about my disease.” She is in good company: both her sister, Brynn, and her father also live with T1D. Paige advocates for T1D causes, and is attending JDRF Children’s Congress this year, for one simple reason: “So that my sister, my dad and I can one day say, ‘I had diabetes.’”

TaiteTAITE
Hometown: Kalispell, MT
Age: 8
Age at T1D diagnosis: 1

Taite doesn’t just speak for himself; he’s attending JDRF Children’s Congress to represent his little brother and all kids who have T1D. “Type 1 diabetes research is important to me because we don’t want type 1 diabetes anymore. We don’t want to get shots ever again, except maybe flu shots,” he says. He is hopeful for a cure as well as improved technology on the road to a cure. “Better pumps would mean we wouldn’t have to poke our fingers with needles as much.” Taite and his brother both have T1D, and they advocate by participating in the JDRF Walk and fundraising creatively. Taite also has appeared on TV and on the radio to talk about life with T1D. Taite loves swimming, running and playing with his best friend.

TrevorTREVOR
Hometown: Kalispell, MT
Age: 5
Age at T1D diagnosis: 3

Swimming, basketball, soccer and pre–school: Trevor is one busy little boy. Along with his family, including his older brother Taite who also has T1D, Trevor walks in the JDRF Walk in Missoula, Montana. In 2013, the brothers helped raise an impressive $11,000 for JDRF—in fact, each year, their family has proudly raised more money than the year before. Trevor also holds a community raffle with his family each year to benefit T1D research. As Trevor’s mom says, “Trevor was raised around a pump and all that goes into caring for someone with T1D. When he was diagnosed he thought it was cool to be like his brother. Our family is committed to fundraising and spread awareness any way we can.”