Age: 13
Age at T1D diagnosis: 8

“I’m learning that when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade,” says Mary Morgan. “Sugar–free lemonade, that is!” Her sunny disposition gets her through the daily struggles of having T1D, which she was diagnosed with about five years ago. But Mary Morgan’s magnetic personality also has a chance to shine through her many hobbies: dance (right now she’s studying lyrical ballet and jazz/hip–hop), acting (she’s appeared in a production of the musical Annie), playing the clarinet in her middle school band, and spending time with her family and friends. “From the beginning, I have felt like I have a choice. I can choose to stay strong and fight my diabetes, or I can give up and let diabetes take over my life. Can you guess what I chose?”

READ MARY MORGAN’S LATEST NEWS:

“Medical breakthrough could help millions of diabetes patients”, May 11, 2015, WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA