The Spencer Family

Fund A Cure

In early 2018, after months of misdiagnoses and unrelenting symptoms, my father, Paul, underwent further testing and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D). A short time later, after completing the first season of my collegiate swimming career at Wayne State University, I received the same horrifying news. In a year, my family went from having no history of T1D to father and son being type one.

As we adjusted to a “new normal,” I learned quickly that it takes a village to thrive with T1D. The honeymoon period of my disease was particularly devastating to my physical and mental health, as I struggled to stave off severe hypoglycemic events while exerting myself during swim practices. Had it not been for my family, teammates (best friends), coaches, academic advisors, and healthcare providers, I would surely have quit swimming and allowed my diabetes to dictate my trajectory in life. Fortunately, they helped me adopt a mindset of growth and resilience, best summed up by the mantra “adversity brings us opportunity.”

My diagnosis motivated me to innovate better strategies of diagnosing and treating T1D, most recently in Dr. Lonnie Shea’s lab at the University of Michigan. During this time, my life has become deeply intertwined with Breakthrough T1D. It is thanks to their Center of Excellence at U of M that I have not only received all-important research support but also been afforded the opportunity to interact with motivated families, caregivers, physicians, and supporters like you. From forming a Walk team at Wayne State to presenting research at the Breakthrough T1D Trainee Symposium, I have benefited from the programming at Breakthrough T1D both personally and professionally.