Ali’s Story

Hi my name is Ali Reese and I was diagnosed in the fifth grade with a disease that I had no knowledge on. After having every symptom, i was misdiagnosed with the stomach flu. My organs started shutting down and my parents were told to give me 8 ounces of gatorade every hour as they were having to wake me up from a semi coma. After obviously not getting any better, my parents admitted me into the hospital. After being properly diagnosed, my doctor told my parents that if they hadn’t had brought me in, I had only hours left. Being diagnosed at 11 years old definitely wasn’t an easy transition because all you want to do is fit in at that age.

After being released a week later from the hospital, I continued to play sports and participate in any activities that i liked prior to being diagnosed and eventually went on to play college basketball my freshman year. Fast forward to now being 22 years old and recently graduating from college, i realized that Diabetes doesn’t have to dictate the way you live your life. Being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes made me grow up and mature at a very young age, but i didn’t let it alter the life I wanted to live. I used my platform to raise money for T1D in the annual walks held in my community, along with also being an ambassador for Texas Children’s Hospital my first year. Being a Diabetic has shaped me into the person I am today and that is something I will forever be thankful for.

Ali Reese