As a mother of a child living with Type 1 diabetes, Diabetes Awareness Month holds a deeply personal place in my heart.
This month is dedicated to awareness and amplification of understanding, compassion, and support for families whose lives are forever changed by this diagnosis, something I know intimately at home and also through my work at the Foundation.
For many families, a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis changes everyday life in an instant. Overnight, childhood becomes tightly woven with blood sugar checks, carb counting, alarms, and new routines that never truly “turn off.”
It can feel overwhelming, isolating, and scary—especially in those early days when everything is new.
That’s why stories of hope, courage, and kindness matter so deeply during Diabetes Awareness Month.
Children living with Type 1 diabetes show remarkable strength every single day. From sudden blood sugar crashes to late-night pump alarms, from adjusting school routines to juggling sports and social life, they navigate challenges most people never see.
And they do it with resilience that inspires all of us who love and care for them.
That’s what makes 9-year-old Russell Maughon’s idea so extraordinary.
Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes two years ago, Russell wanted to encourage other kids who are newly diagnosed.
With the help of his mom, Bonnie Maughon, he hand-makes inspirational bracelets with messages like “Type 1 Strong” and “Built Different”—words meant to remind children that they are brave, capable, and never alone.
The Maughon family understands this journey deeply. Russell’s dad and grandfather also live with Type 1 diabetes, surrounding him with understanding and support from the very beginning.
Russell’s mother Bonnie, who serves as a Charge Nurse in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Ascension Sacred Heart, shared:
“We just want them to know that they are not alone, that they are strong, and they can do anything.”
On Tuesday, November 25, Russell visited the Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart to deliver his bracelets in person. Children living with Type 1 chose their favorites, each one becoming a small but meaningful reminder that someone their age truly understands what they’re experiencing.
Russell also delivered a box of bracelets to the Child Life team, who will now share them with all newly diagnosed patients.
Child Life specialists play a vital role in helping children and families navigate fear, stress, and uncertainty during hospital stays.
These bracelets will add an extra touch of comfort, connection, and encouragement during moments that can feel difficult or heavy.
Local Pulse contributor, Adrienne Maygarden, with husband Tripp and their daughter on her first day of Kindergarten.The timing of Russell’s visit held special meaning for me—and for so many others.
Diabetes Awareness Month shines a light on the more than 300,000 children in the United States living with Type 1 diabetes. Here at the Studer Family Children’s Hospital, we see an average of three new diagnoses every week.
As Dr. Dawn Walton, Chief Medical Officer, reminds us, Type 1 diabetes is not rare, and managing it requires constant monitoring, insulin therapy, and a strong network of support.
And yet, with the right care and tools, children can live full, active, joyful lives.
Russell is living proof. Managing blood sugar, pump settings, and daily routines hasn’t slowed him down one bit. He plays football and baseball, and he shows other kids that a Type 1 diagnosis does not limit what they can dream or achieve.
Russell’s creativity, generosity, and determination reflect the very best of the Type 1 community. His bracelets carry a message every newly diagnosed child deserves to hear:
You are strong.
You are not alone.
And there is no limit to what you can do.
I share Russell’s story in honor of every child living with Type 1 diabetes, including my own, and in deep gratitude to kids like Russell, whose kindness lifts every child and family walking this journey.
Adrienne Maygarden,
President of Sacred Heart Foundation and mother to Charlotte
