June’s “Heart to Heart: T1D Caregiver Spotlight” is on Lisa Moore from Jacksonville, Florida! Lisa and her husband, Jason, have five children and when she isn’t homeschooling the youngest four, she works as a travel advisor part time. Lisa and Jason’s daughter, Josie, was diagnosed with type one diabetes (T1D) right before her eighth birthday back in May of 2015.

Now nine years since her diagnosis, Josie is 16 years old and has such a sweet and loving spirit. She is truly a T1D Champion and an awesome friend to all those around her! In her spare time, Josie loves to bake and play softball. Once Josie graduates high school in 2025, she hopes to attend the University of Florida.

Josie is truly a perfectionist like her mother and struggles when her blood sugar is not “just right.” However, the Moore Family has learned how to best manage Josie’s T1D over the years and stood by her side to help Josie tackle any challenge that comes her way. Below you will find some insightful, realistic advice and information from Lisa that comes with being a T1D caregiver:

Throughout your child’s T1D journey, what have been the biggest challenges you faced?

Josie was diagnosed only three weeks after Lisa and Jason’s youngest child was born.  With a house full of children and an infant, Lisa was exhausted most of the time and struggled to balance caring for a new baby, a newly diagnosed T1D, and homeschool their children.

Once the Moore Family was able to acclimate to their new normal, Lisa found herself becoming anxious over some new activities – like the first time Josie went away to an overnight camp. Over the years, it has been difficult to let go and trust others to take care of her, as well as handing her daily care over to Josie as she matures and becomes more independent.

While adjusting to life with a child with type 1 diabetes, are there certain things you found that helped you better manage their disease? What about something that helped give you hope when you were just getting started?

“Our faith has been the most important factor in keeping us hopeful – knowing that God has a plan for Josie’s life helps us to not become overwhelmed with the day-to-day highs and lows,” says Lisa.

“He has sent us so many sources of help and encouragement through our family, friends, and the Breakthrough T1D community.  We feel blessed to live in an area with such amazing health care, clinical trial opportunities, and access to advancements to make daily life easier.”

What skills/lessons has raising a T1D child taught you? For a parent of a newly diagnosed T1D, how would you compare those feelings to now? 

Lisa remembers wondering how much T1D would limit Josie’s life soon after her diagnosis. Now she sees that Josie has not been limited at all but has faced every challenge with strength and a growing confidence, which has taught her to be a stronger person.

Can you touch on why it’s important for T1D caregivers to come together?

 T1D is a difficult disease and not one that anyone should face alone. “From simple tips on how to manage pump changes to how to dose for food and dealing with adolescence, we need each other to make our individual burdens lighter,” explains Lisa. “If not for other caregivers in this community, our family would have had a much harder time adjusting to Josie’s diagnosis.”

Breakthrough T1D has many support groups for those living with T1D and their caregivers – for more information, visit https://www.breakthrought1d.org/t1d-resources/support-team/. If you’re looking for local support in the Northern Florida area, send an email to northernflorida@breakthrought1d.org and we will make sure you get connected with other families, support groups, and events we host throughout the year.

What has Breakthrough T1D meant to/done for your family? 

The Moore Family’s first event with Breakthrough T1D was a bowling night where they were thankful to have been welcomed into the community with open arms.  “We made amazing friends and learned so much that night – it gave us confidence that we, too, would be able to manage a life with T1D where Josie wouldn’t just survive, she would thrive.”

Josie and the rest of their family have participated in camps, the One Walk, Gala, Party with a Purpose, and many others over the years. Lisa says that “it has been a privilege to serve alongside others in our community to further the cause of Breakthrough T1D through education, awareness, and fundraising. T1D taught us to be an even stronger family that we were before – we became a team.”

What is the most important thing you would want other parents of children with T1D to know?

Most importantly, you are not alone.  Find an outlet and reach out to others, especially when the burden of T1D seems overwhelming… and never stop praying for a cure!”

A True T1D Champion

We believe that because of parents and caregivers like Lisa, the children living with T1D in our community are given the support and care they need to succeed in life and in managing their disease. To anyone caring for a child with T1D, please know that you are not alone in the sleepless nights and heavy days. Breakthrough T1D Northern Florida is here to help you and can connect you with a network of other T1D caregivers to share advice, struggles, and words of encouragement.

For more information or to submit someone for our “Heart to Heart: T1D Caregiver Spotlight,” please contact Jennifer Sifrit at JSifrit@breakthrought1d.org.