At Pine Tree Academy, you’ll find a sweet 7-year-old in class with her friends. But unlike most of her peers, Caroline Cardoza of Brunswick, Maine, faces the daily challenge of living with Type 1 diabetes, a chronic autoimmune disease where the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. Diagnosed at the age of four, Caroline now wears an insulin pump that constantly monitors her blood sugar levels.
This past summer (2025), Caroline traveled to Washington, D.C., for the Children’s Congress, where she shared the scrapbooks she created documenting her journey with diabetes. She presented them to Maine’s legislative delegation, and it was here that she met Sen. Susan Collins. Caroline expressed her hope for a cure for Type 1 diabetes in the near future. Every year, Caroline and her family, along with friends, participate in the T1D Walk held at the end of September.
During her trip, Caroline met many other young people affected by the disease. Alongside 16-year-old Ruby Whitmore from Old Town, Maine, Caroline attended the Breakthrough T1D 2025 Children’s Congress on Capitol Hill. Children ranging in age from 4-17 spoke out to raise awareness about diabetes and the need for research. Their advocacy helped motivate Congress to support the federally funded Special Diabetes Program, which would allocate $160 million to the National Institutes of Health.
With a smile and a determined spirit, Caroline faces each day with resilience. Her faith in Jesus provides her the strength she needs to navigate her journey, one step at a time.
