When I was 6 years old I watched the Sydney Olympics particularly the swimming *cough*Garry-Hall-Jr.*cough*, and I told my mom that when I grew up I wanted to win an Olympic medal like the people on the Telly.
Just over a year later I was diagnosed Type 1, at 7 years of age I didn't know what it was or how to deal with it. It was all a little confusing. But I dealt with it, my family and doctors helped, and it never stopped me from being a child. I had some ups and downs where I didn't want to deal with it but always came back in the end, those episodes usually lasted till I had cried myself out and went to check my sugars cause I was low.
When I was 12 and after doing swimming lessons for years I joined a swim club. 12 years old, 5years Type 1, and I was going to add a sport I started out on literally the lowest rung of the ladder. There were kids 4 years younger than me who were faster and better by far, but that never stopped me. I trained as hard as I could, and moved up the ranks through the club. I swam my first competition a weekend after being in hospital the previous week because I was so dehydrated and my sugars were really high it couldn't be dealt with at home. won a silver medal at what wa considered a big meet. That was my first taste and I've not stopped since. That was 5 years ago. I'm now top rranked in my club, the fastest swimmer in my events (although the boys aren't bad when they try) and I'm still trying to get faster, I want to try and do well at Irish National Championships this year. Diabetes doesn't stop me and that 6 year old girl is still inside telling me to go for gold. I'm 12 years diagnosed in 2013 and well I'm not stopping yet. No one should ever have to stop.
Rochfortbridge, Ireland
