The Early Dream

April’s fascination with space unfolded at five years old, when she decided her life’s goal was to become an astronaut. Her dream persisted even when her type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis at 11 presented a barrier… automatic disqualification to become a NASA astronaut. She double downed on building her career, learning Russian in high school and excelling in math. She eventually received a full-ride scholarship to study aerospace engineering in college, a true testament to April’s tenacity.

“I made it a point not to self-eliminate and face the barriers of this condition head-on,” April says.

Career Milestones

Her career achievements since then are nothing short of remarkable. As a flight test engineer, she accumulated over 250 hours of flight time in experimental Army aircraft. She also passed qualifications in the Army Special Operations helicopter dunker program, altitude chamber, and parachute course- all tests which normally preclude T1D participants. Fast forward to present day, April is leading a team of engineers and flight controllers working to return humans to the surface of the moon.

April’s ultimate dream of becoming an astronaut hasn’t changed and she’s adding an extra challenge- to become the first person living with T1D in space.

The T1D and Aerospace Connection

There is a clear parallel between managing T1D and the work she does as an aerospace engineer, especially when it comes to the concept of backup planning. In April’s day-to-day, she’s constantly assessing the “next worse failure” and preparing backup to backup plans.

“We do this every day as people living with T1D,” she says. “We have extra insulin pens and needles in case our automated technology fails, we bring snacks to counteract off-nominal carbohydrate counts or extra physical exertion, and we are expert problem-solvers when something unexpected happens!”

A Passion for Advocacy

As much as April is focused on her professional career, she never lost sight of the bigger picture: educating outward and advocating upwards. Living with T1D most of her life, knows firsthand the importance of visibility and support.

“The more people know about this disease and how it can be managed, the more likely rules can be changed and opportunities opened,” April says.

April is passionate about inspiring and mentoring fellow women in STEM and anyone living with a chronic condition to push boundaries in pursuit of their dreams. She’s used mediums like blogs and social media as an outlet to share her experiences and stories, while making meaningful connections with others facing similar challenges.

She’s also extended her advocacy efforts to volunteering at Breakthrough T1D, attending Children’s Congress in 2019 as a role model for all the young delegates. She’s also participated in multiple Breakthrough T1D Walks in the past with her family.

 

Beyond Her Career

April is a wife to a partner who supports all her dreams and mom to two children, ages six and nine. Her family has helped her navigate life with a fresh set of priorities. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, scuba diving, reading sci-fi, snuggling with her dogs, visiting museums, learning new board games, and venturing off to new places.

A Message to the T1D Community

As a speaker for the upcoming Breakthrough T1D Community Summit at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on March 29, April hopes to offer the T1D community a fresh perspective. She wants to showcase the skills living with T1D requires, like problem-solving, resilience, and adaptability, and how they can be applied in all aspects of life- including challenging careers such as aerospace engineering.

“If we can perform the mechanics of a vital organ and expertly count carbohydrates and take thousands of shots, we can do anything,” April concludes.

April’s journey is a reminder that no dream is too big, and no challenge is too daunting. Whether dreaming of space, leading a team of engineers, or advocating for change, she continues to inspire anyone she meets along the way. Her resilience is proof that the limits of T1D are just another hurdle to overcome, not a reason to stop. Ad astra per aspera!