Fund A Cure with The Leckie Family | Breakthrough T1D Pittsburgh Gala 2025

Pittsburgh, PA

From The Leckie Family

Unlike many others, type 1 diabetes was not a foreign disease in our family. When our daughter Charley was diagnosed in August of 2023 at age six, she joined her maternal grandfather and great uncle, her paternal grandmother, and her mother as a diabetic. With such a strong family history, we were on the lookout for diabetes in Charley and her little sister, Morgan from the time they were born. In seeking screening options, we found TrialNet, and began driving to Lawrenceville from the South Hills every six months for, what they have affectionately named, “Leckie Week” in 2019.

Leckie FAC FamilyThrough these visits, we learned that Charley was producing less and less insulin as time went on and that Morgan (now 5) would also stop producing insulin in the coming years. To prepare daughters, we taught them about diabetes. What is a carb? How do we test blood sugar? What is a high number? What is a low number? Tell someone if you don’t feel good, are super thirsty, or have to go to the bathroom a lot. Charley knew all these things by the time she was six.

It should not have been a surprise to us that, on a family vacation two months before her seventh birthday, Charley stated at dinner, “I think you need to check my blood sugar. Something doesn’t feel right.” Sure enough, she was right. With a meter reading well over 300, we packed up and drove nine hours to Children’s Hospital where the team was waiting for us in the ER. Charley was quickly admitted and officially diagnosed.

Thanks to funding and support of the TrialNet program by Breakthrough T1D, our family was prepared. There are many reasons to support Breakthrough T1D.  For us, it is the research and advancements to give both our daughters the knowledge, support, and technology to have a healthy and happy life.  Please make a Fund A Cure gift to help advance this life saving and life changing work.