T1DStoriesbyLori

03/12/2026

Thank you for sharing such great resources for parents raising children with type 1 diabetes at your local Breakthrough T1D Summit. I especially appreciate you for including my novel What Happened to Normal?

It is so important for parents and children living with T1D to feel seen, heard and understood.

03/04/2026

There is no such thing as perfect, especially when you are living with Type 1 Diabetes. Once you accept that, life gets easier. It's so important to be kind to yourself. As parents we want to create the "perfect" world for our children, but the reality is that life presents challenges and it's up to us to show our children how to face those challenges with courage and resilience. Children will do what you do, not necessarily what you say. With T1D you can follow the same routine and eat the same foods every day and still you will be challenged with unpredictable BG numbers. Remember this is a marathon, not a race, so take each moment as it comes and try as best as you can to focus on the blessings in your life.

02/26/2026

Thank you TK.Type 1 for spotlighting my novel What Happened to Normal? Community is so important!!! ❤️

02/13/2026

In your darkest hour it's so hard to see the good that will come from a terrible situation. When my son was diagnosed with T1D it was all I could do to put one foot in front of the other and make it through the day. 17 years later I would still take this from him in a heartbeat, but at the same time, I can now appreciate all the good that has come from this journey. The strength, the resilience, the ability to problem-solve, the determination to live a full, happy life, despite the challenges of T1D. Above all else, the community we have become a part of. People sharing our journey and reminding us we are not alone. As I am now reminding you, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

01/27/2026

When my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I wasn’t just faced with learning how to care for him medically, I also had to learn an entirely new way of living.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is this: information is essential - but community is just as important.

After 17+ years of parenting a child with type 1 diabetes and mentoring newly diagnosed families, I've seen how powerful it can be for parents to connect with others who truly understand the daily realities they are facing.

Community doesn’t fix everything, but it reminds you that your fears are valid, that your struggles are real, and that your family’s experience is shared.

This belief is at the heart of my novel “What Happened to Normal?”. The story explores how families adjust to life after diagnosis and the importance of connection, which can make that transition to a “new normal” feel less overwhelming.

Adjusting to a new normal is never easy. Doing it along side people who are on a similar journey can make all the difference.

01/22/2026

When Assumptions Replace Inclusion

One of the moments I explore in What Happened to Normal? is a quiet but painful shift in friendships.

A mom has two close friends. Their children are the same age and have grown up together, sharing playdates, outings and milestone celebrations.

Then her young son is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
Slowly, plans begin to happen without them. Not out of unkindness, but out of assumption. The belief that diabetes will make things too complicated. That’s it’s easier not to include them. That they probably won’t be able to come anyway.

And that’s where the hurt begins.

Because the child is still the same child. Capable. Curious. Wanting to belong. He hasn’t changed. However, the way people respond to him since his diagnosis has changed.

This story is fiction, but the experience is very real. Many families learn early on that managing T1D is only part of the journey - navigating other people’s assumptions is another.

If you’re a friend of a family living with T1D, inclusion starts with one simple question: “How can we make this work?”

And if you’re a parent who has lived this moment, your feelings are valid. You are not alone.

If this resonated with you - feel free to share your thoughts or experiences. Simply being heard is where healing begins.

01/20/2026

Type 1 Diabetes can be a heavy load to carry. How do you manage that stress?

The T1D community is here for you. You don’t have to do this alone.

01/15/2026

01/13/2026

You may notice a name change around here 💙

After a lot of thought, I realized it was time for my page name to better reflect why I’m here.

I’ve been parenting a child with type 1 diabetes for 17 years, mentoring newly diagnosed families, raising awareness about T1D and walking alongside parents through the day-to-day realities of life with T1D

This space will continue to be about:
• parenting through type 1 diabetes
• navigating the emotional side of this journey
• supporting families who are new to this life
• sharing real, lived experience

I’m also the author of What Happened to Normal, a novel inspired by the emotional journey of parenting a child with type 1 diabetes—and that story will always be part of what I share here.

Same heart. Same mission.
Just a name that better reflects who I am

I’m glad you’re here 🤍