Age: 16
Age at Diagnosis: 7

If you ask Marisa what she wants to do when she’s older, her answer is simple: she wants to make a difference in people’s lives. Since being diagnosed with T1D at age seven, Marisa has been working to make a difference. Marisa and her family have been involved in the JDRF One Walk, TypeOneNation Summits, and local community outreach events. Her siblings and parents were also screened for diabetes autoantibodies through TrialNet. Marisa shares, “I felt it was important for them to participate in screening because the more information researchers have about what causes T1D will allow them to figure out how to prevent and cure the disease.”

Marisa enjoys anything creative, particularly sewing and sketching. She loves working out at the gym, going on runs with her dog, Wing, and is proud to be active in the visually impaired community by helping to raise puppies that will go on to become service animals for the blind.

“Teen advocates for type 1 diabetes research,” Mountain Democrat, July 7, 2023

“2 local students advocate for Type 1 diabetes in Washington D.C.,” ABC 10, July 31, 2023