Michelle from California

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Michelle, diagnosed at age four, remembers the moment in first grade when she realized she couldn't be totally carefree. While repeatedly climbing up a mountain of snow for toboggan runs with her friends, her blood sugar dropped terribly low. That feeling of defeat was devastating, but through the years, Michelle has fought back as an advocate for research and awareness. During her recent first performance with her school's dance team, Michelle began to feel the sense of blissful adrenaline that she felt as a girl in the snow, and realized why advocacy is so important: "Every child should have the opportunity to feel pure joy and be free." Enthusiastic and determined to keep hope alive, Michelle urges Congress to help sustain that hope through support. A JDRF Youth Ambassador, she has formed her own Walk team and aspires to help people through her personal experiences.