“The biggest hardship for newly diagnosed children and their families is having no one to turn to for advice or support,” said Franco. “We are not just committed to being a resource for the community but also to being advocates for kids.”

In addition to the camps, STJDA aims to educate children and the community about the importance of exercise and healthy eating habits with preventative programs like Stomp Out Diabetes. 

Franco acknowledged the barriers that many families in the RGV face when trying to access healthy food, such as high costs and limited transportation. They offer a community pantry with access to healthy food options, something she hopes the organization can soon take to different communities throughout the RGV. 

After living with diabetes practically her whole life, to Qubbaj, checking glucose levels and changing her insulin every three days has become routine. She learned to manage her diabetes successfully and has even gone to Congress to advocate for more funding for diabetes research. Now, as an engineering major at UTRGV, her worries are mostly midterms and graduation. 

However, she hopes that in the future, diabetes will be better taught in schools to debunk some of the misconceptions surrounding it. 

“I’m not even blaming anyone because I feel like if I didn’t have it, I wouldn’t know either. But just do your research and be aware of the people around you and the different things that they are going through,” Qubbaj shared.