The Keen Family

Justin, Hannah, Jack (7), and Sawyer (4)

July 23, 2020 was the day that changed our lives forever. That morning I took my daughter Sawyer, who was 18 months at the time, to the doctor to try and figure out what was going on with her. Her excessive thirst and urination threw up some red flags, but at the time, I was not sure what it all meant. After explaining all of her symptoms, the doctor immediately had the nurse check her blood sugar. I will never forget the look on the nurse’s face, white as a ghost, as she asked, "is there a history of diabetes in your family?" She quickly alerted the doctor, and we were off to the hospital where she was officially diagnosed with type one diabetes (T1D). At that moment, we knew our lives had changed forever. It has been two and a half years since that fateful day, and I truly do not know how we could do it without the technology and therapies that are now available because of generous individuals like you.

Even in the short time that we have been a T1D family, so much has changed in T1D-related medical technology and JDRF has been the leading catalyst for these advancements. From the funding to slow the progression and reduce complications of T1D to the advocacy that is driving insulin affordability, JDRF is giving hope to every family affected by T1D! My husband and I are fully committed to supporting our vast T1D community and doing anything and everything we can to make life better for our daughter and turn type one into type none­­­­.