This year’s Living & Giving Honoree for the Jacksonville Gala is the Moore Family! The Moore’s commitment to finding a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) centers around Josie. When Josie was diagnosed at 7 years old, all generations of the Moore family rallied around her and Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) to ensure type 1 becomes type none.

Jonny and Barbara Moore are grandparents to Josie. Jonny worked in electrical trade in Jacksonville for 49 years, even starting his own company that he sold last year. His wife, Barbara, taught in public and private schools for 26 years. As they support their granddaughter, their hope is in their lifetime they can see a reduction in the worries of those living with T1D and those caring for a T1D loved one – through technology or a cure.

Jason and Lisa are parents to Josie and her four siblings. Jason works for Moore Electric, while Lisa is the family homeschool teacher and a board member for their homeschool co-op. The day Josie was diagnosed was their most terrifying day. With a three-week-old son in tow, Lisa rushed Josie into the pediatrician’s office after a misdiagnosis of strep and worsening symptoms, even with antibiotics. The doctor quickly knew Josie’s symptoms were those of T1D. Josie was taken to Nemours via ambulance, while Jason rushed to meet them there. Lisa will “never forget the words ‘insulin dependent’ as they came from our new doctor’s mouth; that’s the moment everything changed.”

The Moores were immediately connected to Breakthrough T1D upon receiving a Bag of Hope. Rufus became Josie’s constant companion. Lisa also received a call the next day from another T1D mom who mentored and supported the family through their new normal. Within days of Josie’s diagnosis, they had a support system, T1D friends and education around clinical trials.

Josie was given a unique opportunity in 2015 to participate in a two-week trial for the Bionic Pancreas. This trial showed them firsthand the work that Breakthrough T1D puts forth to improve the quality of life of those living with T1D. While a cure is the ultimate goal, and what the Moore family are all waiting for, they are “thankful for the many technologies that have been developed through funding and support from Breakthrough T1D. Our hope is that one day there will be a cure, with prevention therapies in place, so no one will have to live with T1D again.”

Josie is now 17 years old and thriving because of the family and community support in place. However, they don’t want to underwrite what living ‘successfully’ with T1D looks like. The invisible daily effort and mental load that Josie and the Moore family carry is not light. As she reaches adulthood, there are new fears and worries that the family will continue to overcome. They find hope in new support through adulthood with the simultaneous transition of JDRF to Breakthrough T1D.

As they look forward to the upcoming “Into the Blue” Greater Jacksonville Gala, the Moore Family is excited to be a part of making a difference in so many lives through sharing their story.  “Not just life changing opportunities, but lifesaving opportunities. We should give as though someone’s life depends on it,” Barbara says. Caring for Josie and curing T1D is a multi-generational commitment that the Moore family is passionate and excited to celebrate on November 15^th.