Meet the Shelbys.
Shelby #1: 9-years-old, avid soccer player, recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Has a sister named Sydney who also plays soccer but is not diabetic.
Shelby #2: 20-years-old, avid soccer player, has type 1 diabetes and gets treated at Packard Children’s. Has a sister named Sydney who also plays soccer but is not diabetic.
Cue theme from The Twilight Zone.
Okay, maybe it’s not that eerie, but you have to admit that's a lot of coincidences shared by two people. But that’s not what this story is really about - rather, it’s the story of two young people with type 1 diabetes who aren’t about to let the disease slow them down or keep them from doing what they want in life.
The 20-year-old, Shelby Payne, plays for the Stanford Women’s Soccer team and has helped Shelby Scott, now 10 years old, adjust to being diabetic, but it’s not a one-way interaction. Shelby the elder has also drawn inspiration from Shelby the younger. For those details, you’ll have to read the story.
Previously: Tips for parents on recognizing and responding to type 1 diabetes
