Hi everyone my name is Alexis, I am 14 years old and a sophomore at Westminster Senior High in Westminster, Maryland. In October 2008 I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I arrived at Carroll Hospital Center very very sick. My breathing was very heavy, my eyes were heavy with dark circles around them, I had dropped a significant amount of weight instantaneously. Within 5 minutes of arriving at the hospital we were told I had the onset of Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes at that point I was immediately rushed down to Sinai Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Over the course of the next 5 days I was hooked up to IV’s to get my sugar down to a normal range because when I arrived at the hospital my sugar was 1,185. Normal range where I should be is 70 -150 so I was very sick. My family and I learned all about managing diabetes during my stay in the hospital and you actually continue learning. I never asked why me I just took it in stride and decided I wanted to do something to help others so I began raising money I started making football barrettes for all the teams and motorcycle barrettes and selling them all over the U.S. donating the proceeds to JDRF. Then I came up with the idea that I just didn’t want to send money I wanted to help people personally. So last August I came up with the name of my Organization, Live, Hope, Laugh Alexis Ross Organization had a fundraiser and was able to raise enough money to become Incorporated and in October 2010 I was official. I help children and teens with a chronic illness. Since last year I was able to send children to diabetic camp, dragonfly heart camp, help a family financially staying at the Ronald McDonald House while there child received treatment at a local area hospital. I adopted (3) families last year at Christmas time providing everything on there wish list and this year I am helping (6) families. I help with back to school, donate pajamas, robes, slippers, books, arts & crafts, board games, puzzles, dolls, toy trucks to Sinai Pediatric Hospital, Carroll Hospital Center, and RMH.This year I will be awarding a scholarship to a graduating senior pursuing a career in the medical field this scholarship will be in honor of a good friend and classmate I lost a couple weeks ago to diabetes. I am also President of the Diabetic Group at my school we meet once a month and provide support for one another and offer information to those who aren’t diabetic.I would like to say I have had no other hospitalizations since the onset, my eye exams show no signs of diabetes nor my dental exams. My endocrinologist is very proud of me and you can never check your sugar enough! Your life depends on it! I would like to thank you Bret for all the work you do to raise diabetic awareness, you are a great role model and so many people look up to you! Thank you for letting me share my story!