Everyday Hero
Everyday Heroes is a monthly series recognizing individuals, families or businesses that go above and beyond to serve our local T1D community.

Will is a Division I Athlete pitching for the Quakers at the University of Pennsylvania. He grew up in Summit, NJ, where he lettered three years in baseball at Summit High School. He earned All-Conference and All-County accolades in 2016 and 2017 and All-State selection his senior year. He led Summit to back-to-back conference championships. He also lettered three years in basketball for Summit High School and graduated magna cum laude. All of these accomplishments came following his type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis at age 14. He manages his T1D head on with confidence so we spoke with him to learn more about his story and his message to others living with T1D.

JDRF: Tell us about yourself and your connection with T1D?
Will: I was diagnosed just nine days prior to heading off to summer camp. It was my seventh summer going. I had a routine physical for camp and the doctor said they found glucose in my urine ands sent me straight to the ER where I was then diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I didn’t want diabetes to be a crutch.  I wanted to make it work in the best way so I left for camp 9 days later. At camp there was a kid that was three years older than me that had T1D. He took me under his wing and was a big influence in me managing my own diabetes. He was an athlete like me. I learned “on the go” for the 7 weeks that summer. I wouldn’t have traded that summer for anything. It helped me take full control of diabetes. My parents supported my decision to go to sleep away camp that summer and I’m so thankful for that.

JDRF: How do you communicate with your teachers, coaches and friends about your diabetes?
Will: I always tell them I have type 1 diabetes; however, they will not notice it very much. I tend to be low-key and will make them aware if I need their help. I let them know that if I have to step out or take a minute that I am not ditching out on class or practice.

On my first day of practice at the University of Pennsylvania I had my usual conversation by making my coaches and teammates aware that I have type 1 diabetes. I was in the middle of doing drills when I had a really bad low. I went up to the coaches and asked if they had Gatorade. The assistant coach handed me a pack of sour skittles. From that moment my teammates have become some of my best friends and supporters.

Most people I know typically shy away from telling others that they have type 1 diabetes. I take the initiative to tell everything up front. The reaction each time has been the same, people are interested, want to learn and watch rather than not know. I have learned that everybody knows somebody who has type 1 diabetes, but most people don’t know everything that is involved with managing it.

JDRF: What are some tactics you use to manage type 1 diabetes when going into a game or practice?
Will: I always have a Gatorade and peanut butter sandwich prior to a game or practice. I have found the combination of carbohydrates and protein work for me. You have to get to know your own body and know what brings your blood sugar high or drops it low. I also disconnect my insulin pump prior to playing but I check my blood sugar before, mid game and after playing.

JDRF: What is your favorite accomplishment?
Will: As we talked about, I went to my 7 week sleepaway camp 9 days after I was diagnosed. From the hospital I called the owner of the camp to make sure they would let me come. It was really hard because I was learning a whole new way of life but I wouldn’t have missed the summer for anything. Then the next summer, I was voted captain of Color War, which is a huge honor. In the ceremonial speech, the Camp Director mentioned my diagnosis and shared how I overcame so much and continued to come back to camp, not letting this disease hold me back. That experience meant the entire world to me.

JDRF: What kind of message do you have for kids or adults living with type 1 diabetes?
Will: Never think you are alone. Personally, I took this disease on independently. But it doesn’t mean that I didn’t have 100 people behind me who have saved or helped me along the way. I believe that people just want to know and learn more so don’t be shy or ashamed of it or afraid of asking for help. People always want to help when others are struggling. I have become confident with managing my disease just by knowing I had others there for me if I needed it.

JDRF: What does a cure mean to you?
Will: I have been confident from the beginning of my diagnosis that there will be a cure in my lifetime. Although managing diabetes has become such a normal part of my life, I would love to no longer deal with it. When there is a cure, my first reach will be for a slice of pizza instead of my pump.

JDRF: What are you doing for the summer?
Will: I’m in the Hamptons all summer playing in a collegiate baseball league. My UPENN teammates and I were placed on teams all around the country. On my first day here, a 10-year-old little boy, Miles, who is living with type 1 diabetes, ran up and crashed into me. He was so excited to meet me knowing that I had type 1 diabetes. He asked me so many questions from things like the type of pump I use to what my A1C was. It feels good to have someone look up to me as a role model the way that Miles does.

JDRF: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Will: When I was first diagnosed I questioned everything. Why me? What did I do? For anyone being diagnosed and thinking ‘is this going to change everything’? I would tell them this. It doesn’t change you. It changes your routine.