In honor of Mother’s Day and our upcoming One Walk in Baltimore this Sunday, we talked with Orla Wilson, of Baltimore, MD, to talk about how Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) has affected her family for three generations and how local families came together to form The Three Musketeers.

Q: Can you tell me a little bit about the effect T1D has had on you and your family?

A: My mom was diagnosed back when she was 37 around Easter of 1983. I was diagnosed soon after that and we have had T1D together for 34 years. Now my daughter, Polly, has it as well. The one assest we have is that my mom and I were able to pass on our knowledge of treatment for this disease to Polly

Q: What affect did it have on you when Polly was diagnosed?

A: It really made me realize what my parents had to go through back when I was growing up. My family is originally from Dublin, and back when I was in college I traveled to Belgium for an internship. I think almost all of my luggage was medical supplies. With what Polly has to go through now, I appreciate all that my parents did for me. There is a new level of respect and admiration among us, another shoulder for us to cry on during the hard times…it’s also reassuring to know that I can leave Polly with my parents and they will know what she needs.

Q: Can you tell me a little about your One Walk team?

A: Another girl in Polly’s grade had T1D and when their mutual friend was diagnosed the girls basically became a sort of support group for each other. That’s pretty much what started the team. The girls all decided on the team name together when they were in the nurse’s office at school and we all walked together for the first time last year. It is such a huge difference that they have each other. You can sense the hope that they bring one another.

Q: What would you say the One Walk means for you, your family and your team?

A: Well, the first time we did the One Walk was on a total whim. We were absolutely gobsmacked by all the people and how supportive everyone was. Everyone was there for this same purpose and were driven to make a difference. We have such a great community and it’s wonderful to realize that such unity exists for those with T1D.

This year, Sonya’s mother, Loretta, has really jumpstarted the team’s fundraising to a new level. My mother even had a coffee morning at our old house back in Dublin to raise money for Breakthrough T1D. It makes it more special to know that we are all in this together and invested in finding a cure.

Q: One of the big changes to the Baltimore One Walk this year is that the event is falling on Mother’s Day. What does that mean to you?

A: Mother’s Day for me is always a little bitter-sweet because my mom is in Ireland and the holiday is actually earlier in the year in Ireland.  Having the Walk on Mother’s Day will be great way to make the day that much more special to honor my mother and the commitment I have to Polly. And of course it will make me miss my mother that much more!