Kaylee was only 4 years old the day she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

“I remember that going to the hospital, and the heart monitor patches, and all the IVs,” says Kaylee, who just finished the 4th grade.

Those early days and months were hard — and scary.

“I was sad and I was scared because we didn’t know anything about type 1,” recalls Kaylee, who is usually busy with gymnastics classes, soccer practice, and playdates with the neighborhood kids.

Despite being so young at the time of her diagnosis, Kaylee still remembers that first insulin injection very clearly.

“I was crying a lot, it was scary,” says Kaylee. “And I was really sad when I learned I had to change the CGM sensor every 10 days.”

Just a few years later, Kaylee can manage those new CGM sensors nearly all on her own — no more fear.

She also stopped hiding her T1D from friends at school.

“When I was in kindergarten, I didn’t want anyone to know I had T1D,” remembers Kaylee. “But last year, I started telling my friends about it. Now all of my friends know I have T1D and some of them even think it’s cool!”

Kaylee had been so worried her friends would think her CGM and insulin pump were weird, it never occurred to her that they might actually think that fancy tech is cool instead! By talking about her T1D with friends at school, she’s learned that some of her friends have family members with T1D.

“Today, I just feel like I’m normal,” says Kaylee.

“It makes me stronger, and it helps me think about the bright side of things.”