Many of us do not realize our body makes insulin, but NHS sophomore Marissa Myska thinks about it every day. Insulin regulates our blood sugar, a vital part of keeping us alive.

Marissa lacks it. At 8 years old, Marissa learns her diagnosis —  Type 1 Diabetes, meaning she is unable to make insulin.

Even with such a painful diagnosis, Marissa does not feel scared, only sad, as if the diagnosis punches her in the gut.

“I just realized that I had to deal with it the rest of my life. I just wanted to be a normal kid, and I couldn’t do that anymore.”

She struggles with it every single day. Each morning, she wakes up with either too high or low blood sugar. Before breakfast, she checks her blood sugar and sets her insulin, which she must do every time she eats. As we all do, she gets dressed, only her outfit includes a Marvel themed pump that supplies her insulin.

During the day, she carries around a backpack that weighs a ton like the rest of us, but also carries a “life bag,” holding all her diabetic supplies.

After school, Marissa heads to swim practice. Being a member of the swim team with diabetes, times exist when she sits out during practice, and even for a meet. This can be painful for her; she feels awful stopping while the rest of the team pushes on. With a supportive team, she continues to progress in the sport.

Marissa was born with this.

She cannot control it.

It can be deadly.

But despite all of these aspects, Marissa is able to enjoy her life. She loves reading, listening to Ariana Grande, and watching Marvel Movies. She continues to fight like the heroes she loves.

Even with her diagnosis, she perseveres.