Julia O’Leary is not your normal almost 18-year-old high school student, though she will tell you that she is.
She is a Type 1 Diabetic, and has been since the age of nine. And in April, she will be this year’s Fund A Cure Ambassador at the annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) Gala.
This year’s event is called “One Night in the Enchanted Garden” and listening to Julia tell the story, you quickly understand that everything came together rather perfectly for her to earn this honor.
“I’ve always said that if you want something; go get it. They always have a speaker at the event and I love to tell my story, so I’ve always told them that if you ever need a speaker, I’m available.
“When they announced the date of this year’s Gala, and I realized that it was on my 18th birthday, I said you have to pick me!”
But the JDRF Gala is a state-wide event with almost 700 people in attendance. It couldn’t be that simple.
But her story is almost too good to be true. So on April 8th, Julia will be giving her speech about how being a T1D changed her life and gave her a career path.
“When I was little, I hated medicine and I was petrified of needles. Now I inject myself 12 times a day.
“Being a Type 1 Diabetic thrust me into medicine, whether I wanted it to or not. And now, I love medicine.”
Julia has already been accepted into the Pre-Med program at Christopher Newport University where she plans to study biochemistry next year. She even started the Future Medical Leaders of America (FMLA) club here at Lancaster Catholic.
Julia has already been accepted into the Pre-Med program at Christopher Newport University where she plans to study biochemistry next year. She even started the Future Medical Leaders of America (FMLA) club here at Lancaster Catholic.
But it didn’t always seem like it was going to be the perfect story.
“It took me a while to get to a place where I know that it’s normal. When you’re young with this disease, you are self-conscious. I was nervous about pricking myself in public. Now I’m a pro at it. I can prick myself while I’m driving.”
Julia explains that she knows her body so well now because of being diabetic. She has to plan her day ahead, counting carbs with everything that she eats or drinks. She is even forced to check her blood sugar before she goes to sleep.
“I now feel comfortable sharing how I feel with everyone. If I’m having a bad day, and I know I’m not going to be able to focus on a test or assignment, I can tell my teachers here and they are all really great with it. That might not be that case at a public school, but here, everyone respects and understands that if I need some time, I can have it.”
Julia is an active member for JDRF, serving on the Teen Task Force, a group of about 15 young people who are working to help stamp out the disease. She playfully says that they go there to complain about diabetes, but truthfully states that they help each other with tips and tricks to help deal.
As you can tell, she’s not a normal teenager. What normal 18-year-old would have been dealt this hand and turned it into a winning one?
Two years ago, JDRF raised a record $661,000 at the annual Gala, and according to Julia, they are on track to break that record this year on her birthday, April 8th.