Fund A Cure with Marlena Vecchio | Breakthrough T1D Syracuse Gala 2026

Marlena's Story

Our story starts like so many others I’ve come to know since joining the T1D community.  Something feels off, you schedule a doctor’s appointment, and suddenly, you’re in the hospital and leaving with a life that looks completely different than it did just days before.

We were on a week‑long vacation at a national dance competition when Marlena began showing subtle signs that something wasn’t right: fatigue, slight weight loss (despite a four‑inch growth spurt between April and June), and an insatiable craving for chocolate milk and pasta. She pushed through that entire competition like the warrior she is, but on the drive home, I called her pediatrician, as something just wasn’t quite right. We went to the doctor the following day and after long discussions and testing, we found the culprit.  Her blood sugar was 449.  I will never forget the NP looking at me and saying, “I am so sorry, this is never news I want to give, but I think Marlena may have Type 1 Diabetes and these may be signs she is in DKA.”

After a brief moment of tears, we got in the car and headed straight to Golisano. Thanks to the incredible physicians there (and the unwavering persistence and advocacy from my cousins Matt and Hannah), what I feared was confirmed.  Marlena had Type 1 Diabetes, and she was in DKA.  In the days that followed, I went from knowing nothing about T1D to being able to write a book.  Our lives became focused on carb counting, BS math, highs, lows, and every emotion in between.

While those early days were traumatic and overwhelming, Marlena shined.  She has met this diagnosis with grit, grace, and a strength far beyond her years.  She hasn’t let T1D slow her down in any way; she is a fierce competitive dancer; owns her Omnipod and Dexcom changes like a champ, and she absolutely dominates on the soccer field (even if that includes a couple of mid‑game pump tosses in the field along the way!)  Watching my daughter not just survive, but thrive, fills me with an emotion I can barely put into words.

This is why I am diving head‑first into doing everything I can to help find a cure and to support the technology and research that gives my little heart the best possible chance of success as she navigates life with T1D.

I hope you’ll consider joining me on this journey by making a 100% tax‑deductible donation in Marlena’s name to Breakthrough T1D. Your support fuels critical research, accelerates life‑changing advancements, and helps move us closer to a world without Type 1 Diabetes.

Breakthrough T1D’s core mission is to drive urgently needed scientific breakthroughs while supporting families like ours who are living this reality every single day.

Thank you for being part of our story and for helping write a future filled with hope.