JDRF is proud to announce our 2017 One Walk Youth Ambassadors Emily Roland for the One Walk Fox Valley and Ethan Rohn for the JDRF One Walk Green Bay. These are two fantastic kids with T1D leading the charge to turn type one into type none. Read all about them below and join at the JDRF One Walks in May in DePere, Neenah, and Fond du Lac. For more information go to walk.jdrf.org

Meet Emily

Emily is 15 years old and a sophomore at Oshkosh West High School.  She plays a saxophone in the school band and is a member of the cross-country and soccer teams.  Emily recently became certified to referee youth soccer games and is excited to be getting her driver’s license soon.  Emily looks forward to attending diabetes camp for one week every summer.

Emily was only 8 years old when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on November 5th, 2009.  Her only symptoms were that she was drinking large amounts of water and frequently going to the bathroom.  The diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes was shocking given that there is no family history of Diabetes.  Emily spent a couple days in the hospital after diagnosis, and within two weeks was giving herself injections of insulin.

Emily transitioned to her first insulin pump in June, 2012.  This fall she upgraded to her second insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).   Given Emily’s active lifestyle, she is really enjoying the convenience of the CGM.  Her CGM has been very helpful in providing alerts for low blood sugars during the night.  This year Emily will reach the milestone of having been diabetic longer than she wasn’t.  It is hard to believe that she has been checking blood sugars and battling highs and lows for half of her life.

Emily looks forward to participating in the JDRF One Walk in Neenah each year and this year will be Team Em’s 8th walk.  Emily has never forgotten that when she was diagnosed that her doctor told her a cure for Type 1 Diabetes would be found within her lifetime.  Emily is confident that with JDRF’s help – this will indeed happen.

Meet Ethan

Ethan Rohn is 11 years old, a 5^th grader at Valders Middle School. Ethan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in July 2011, he was 5 years old. Ethan has been on an insulin pump for the last 4 years. The pump is great, but he never gets a break from it. He struggles with keeping his blood sugars in target range, but with the pump we are able to regulate his blood sugars and carb intake better. There are times that Ethan just wants a breaks, no blood sugar check, no counting carbs, and to unhook his pump. I wish he had that option. Diabetes is very difficult at times and frustrating but he has great support and will get through it.

Ethan loves JDRF because they are raising money for research, to help all people living with Type 1 diabetes find a cure. Ethan wants a cure; he wants to feel good all the time. He doesn’t want to check blood sugar, count carbs, be hooked up to machine that gives him insulin. He want to eat whatever he wants whenever he wants. This why he supports JRDF. Ethan believes that he will see significant changes in his lifetime and hoping they will find a cure!