Episode 63: Lucky 777's with Maria

On this episode you will hear from Maria. Let me jump right into the show's title, Lucky 777's with Maria...Maria was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 7 years young. Her sister that is 3 years younger than Maria was diagnosed when Maria was 10, yes at 7 years young. That's not it! Maria's half-sister that lives in Puerto Rico, whom is 1 1/2 years younger than her sister was diagnosed, 1 1/2 years after, at you got it...7 years young, hence Lucky 777's.Maria is a mother of 2 boys, and they are her reason! Again, she has been living with Type One Diabetes since she was 7 years young in 1996. She works as a family support provider and is and advocate for many and she knows that a lot of this has to do with her own upbringing with T1D at such a young age.For a long time, she let diabetes define her but now she uses all she's gained to help others and give back to community.Maria mentions how she has always put everyone else first. She learned that she should have boundaries when it comes to her own health.Until her sister was diagnosed, she was the only person in her school that she knew with T1D. From day 1 at 7 she took on the responsibility of her own care and she did this for her sister too once she was diagnosed. Maria recalls how in school the teachers did not have any concern with her diabetes & that she had to begin. For a while she didn't give insulin in school for the most part, even during lunch. Not until her a1c was upwards of 13 did she start getting prescribed insulin to use at school.Maria recalls all of those days, years advocating for herself at such a young age. Today Maria wants everyone to ask her all the questions that they have because she wants to be seen and heard because this is a great part of who she is.Maria wants her boys, her little men to know that they truly saved her life, and she truly owes it all to them that she is at the positive space she is today with her health both physically and emotionally.