Brick and Charlies Stories

A Note from Brick

(The Real-Life Buck)

Hi, I am Brick.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on the day before Halloween, October 30, 2024. That day changed a lot for me, but it didn’t change who I am.

At first, everything felt new and overwhelming. The hardest part in the beginning was keeping track of what I ate and taking all the shots. I had to learn how to count carbs, check my blood sugar, and think ahead about food in a way I never had before.

Now that I have been living with Type 1 for a while, I feel proud of how I’ve handled it. I have learned a lot and gotten stronger because of it.

The hardest part for me now is not the shots anymore, it’s remembering I can’t just grab a snack without thinking about it. I have to keep track of the carbs and make sure I dose for them. Sometimes that gets annoying. The technology has been great and helps a lot, but the alarms and how often I have to change my devices can be frustrating.

But here’s what I know:

Type 1 Diabetes doesn’t stop me from doing the things I love. I can still go on adventures. I can still hang out with my friends. I can still try new things and challenge myself.

If you have Type 1 Diabetes, I want you to know something important, you can do anything you put your mind to. It might take planning. It might take teamwork. But you are stronger than you think.

Diabetes is something I have.

It is not who I am.

Brick

A Note from Charlie

(Real Life Chuck)

When I first found out that my friend had Type 1 Diabetes, I didn’t really know what that meant. I was kind of shocked and a little worried. He was still acting like himself, laughing and making jokes, but I knew something big had changed in his life. I didn’t want him to feel different or weird, but I also didn’t really know what to say or how to help

The first time I saw him take insulin, it felt more real to me. He told me that his body doesn’t make insulin, and that the shots are what keep him healthy. I thought that sounded really hard. I don’t think I would be very brave about it, but he just did it like it was normal. It made me realize how strong he actually is. I also started to understand that even though diabetes is something he has to deal with, it’s not who he is. He’s still the same friend I’ve always had, just a stronger, but still very funny Buck!