Dear Friends,
When Lily was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes she was a bubbly and curious two-year-old. She was just learning all of the joys and many frustrations of being a first time big sister when the subtle symptoms began. She didn’t know why she was having accidents, or why she was feeling tired and moody, but the answer would bring more questions and more confusion for Lily. At two years old she was a type 1 diabetic, but she couldn’t understand what that would mean for her yet.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a demanding and ever-present condition. As her parents, when we brought Lily home from the hospital after her diagnosis, we were worried about the realities of sticking her fingers and injecting her with insulin many times a day. It wasn’t fair that Lily would have to grow up with this responsibility, but our family would not have to face this disease alone.
Today, thanks to the amazing support, education, and community Breakthrough T1D provides, Lily and all of us in her family feel confident managing her diabetes and hopeful for a cure. Lily has been incredibly lucky to meet so many of the people in Breakthrough T1D who are working tirelessly to secure a future for her without insulin injections, low blood sugar, or any diabetes related stress. We tell Lily all of the time that Breakthrough T1D is curing T1D for her and all the kids just like her. She just wants to know when.
Lily is now six years old, her understanding of the disease, the responsibilities and the possibility of a cure only continues to grow. As a two-year-old, she thought someone from Breakthrough T1D would hand her a cure today and diabetes would just go away. Now, she understands that her cure is a work in progress that will take brilliant scientists, dedicated volunteers, and generous donors. We all truly believe that a cure is within reach, and we are dedicated as a family to help Breakthrough T1D get there.
Following Lily’s diagnosis, our family, including grandparents, aunts, and close friends, are committed to raising money for a cure and spreading the hope that Breakthrough T1D inspires. We have come together to fundraise in our businesses, encourage early T1D education, and host amazing charity game nights. Lily is old enough now to join in and she is so proud to help Breakthrough T1D find a cure.
That cure is closer than ever!
Whether a cure for type 1 diabetes comes from an artificial pancreas, advancements in cell therapy, or another groundbreaking avenue, Breakthrough T1D will be the support and the driving force that will bring it to light. All of the tools that Lily uses today to help manage her disease, like continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, were created with the help of Breakthrough T1D. Even at our local University of Arizona, Breakthrough T1D is supporting incredible researchers who are developing a functional cure for Lily and so many others.
Sometimes, Lily asks “how much longer do I have to have diabetes?”, and we can feel our hearts break. We don’t know. We hope that Lily will have the freedom to explore her education, walk down the aisle, or start her own family without the weight of T1D. Not knowing is frustrating. But we take our frustration with diabetes and our overwhelming appreciation for Breakthrough T1D and we channel it into raising money for a cure. We ask you to join us at the Breakthrough T1D Tucson Gala on April 10, 2027, as we celebrate all that Breakthrough T1D has accomplished and we raise $250,000 to find a cure.
Sincerely,
Luke and Karley Schneider
2027 Fund A Cure Family, Breakthrough T1D Tucson Gala
