Written by David Corsaro, Matthew’s father
Why do we walk? We walk because of a memory.
We may never lose the memory of sitting in a hospital room when the doctor told us that our 15-month-old son Matthew, a baby with his entire life in front of him full of open possibilities, had type 1 diabetes (T1D). We were told he would spend the rest of his life monitoring his blood sugar, receiving insulin, and being very aware of things that many of us never have to think about, like his glucose level and beta cells in his pancreas.
When we were connected with Breakthrough T1D, it was an awakening. We met people going through the same roller coaster of emotions that we were. We met people who told us, “We understand,” in a way that our family and friends could not.
The road also travels both ways. We have been fortunate enough to speak to the parents of newly diagnosed children and look into their eyes. We have been able to provide a comforting word or hug to someone who felt the same way we did after diagnosis.
Within one month of Matthew’s diagnosis, we signed up for the Breakthrough T1D Walk. Instead of feeling helpless because there is no cure, we looked at it as discovering a new cause that we had to fight for. It was something that was within our control to help make his life better.
So why do we walk with Breakthrough T1D? Because of a memory.
A memory of Matthew standing on stage at the Breakthrough T1D Walk, watching him take the microphone to start the event countdown.
But most of all, we walk because of the memory of Matthew saying, “I wish I did not have diabetes,” and knowing that the research funded by Breakthrough T1D will improve his way of life and take us a step closer to his wish of finding cures.
Walk toward cures
Breakthrough T1D Walk is the largest global event for the T1D community, driving research, advocacy, and support to improve lives while funding cures research.
