The People Who Helped Me Thrive

While my T1D journey is personal, I didn’t go through it alone. I am so grateful for the healthcare professionals in the U.S. who provided me with the detailed care and knowledge that empowered me to take control of my health. Their guidance was invaluable and gave me the confidence to navigate this new chapter of my life.

But what truly carried me through were the people closest to me. My advisor was the first person I called. He drove two hours on a Sunday, just weeks after having his first baby, to sit by my side. He cracked jokes to make things feel normal, even lent me his portable charger so I could keep my phone alive when he probably needed it himself. That small kindness made me feel less scared.

My aunt drove four hours the night she heard I was in the ER, arriving at midnight just so I wouldn’t be alone. The health center nurse also trusted her instincts in a way I’ll never forget. I had gone in earlier that day because of a bad headache, but after a quick check I left. Something didn’t sit right with her, though, so she called me back. That second visit led to the blood test that revealed it was T1D. I still wonder, what if she hadn’t called me back?

And my mom, she got on the first flight from Korea the second she heard I was in the ER.

There were only two seats left on that plane to New York. I still think, what if those seats had already been taken? Her presence grounded me when everything else felt uncertain.

Then there was my best friend, who pulled off something unforgettable. He gathered not only our friends, but even his own friends from another school, people I hadn’t even met along with his dad, mom, and sister. Together, they all recorded messages for me, and he edited the clips into a video and sent it over. Watching it was overwhelming in the best way. Before that, I had been sinking into depression, but that video reminded me how loved I was. It gave me the energy I needed to believe I could get through this.

This journey has shown me the incredible power of a supportive community. Friends, family, mentors, and even people who were practically strangers at the time stepped in when I needed them most. Their love, instincts, and sacrifices made the hardest days bearable. Because of them, I didn’t just survive my diagnosis, I found the strength to truly thrive.