In January 2026, what began as a routine doctor’s appointment quickly turned into a phone call we will never forget: drive immediately to the ER to rule out Type 1 diabetes in our 14-year-old son, Hyatt. The next morning, our fears were confirmed, and Hyatt was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
This year hasn’t looked quite the way any of us imagined, but we could not be prouder of the tenacity, grace, and responsibility Hyatt has shown in navigating his diagnosis. Type 1 diabetes is now part of Hyatt’s story, but it will never define him. He is an active baseball player, a loyal friend, and, above all, a warrior.
Many people don’t realize that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that cannot be prevented—and it never takes a day off. There are no vacations, holidays, or breaks from the constant calculations and decisions required to manage it. Hyatt, our family, and millions of others living with Type 1 face hundreds of medical decisions every single day. And while incredible advances in technology have made the disease more manageable, they are not a cure.
Every day, we pray for a future when Hyatt and the millions of others living with Type 1 no longer have to think about blood sugar, insulin, carbohydrates, alarms, or what might happen next. A future where they can simply live.
That is why finding a cure means so much to our family. We believe that future is possible, and we are honored to be a Fund A Cure family helping bring it closer—for Hyatt and for every family whose life has been changed by Type 1 diabetes.
Make a donation in honor of the Bankhead Family here: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/arkansas/events/bankhead/