Community Corner
Whiz Kids: The Macchi Sisters
These are sisters who don't let Type 1 diabetes stop them in life. They are hoping to represent Connecticut at the next Children's Congress Event with JDRF of Fairfield County.
Bethel sisters Tori and Sophia Macchi are following their dreams to represent Connecticut at next year's Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Children's Congress Event.
Tori Macchi is like any 8-year-old, except she has had Type 1 diabetes since she was four.
Mom Claire Macchi said, "She asked me 'when will my diabetes go away?,' as if she thought it was like having a cold. I held back my tears and had to explain to my little girl what it really meant to have diabetes."
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"What I explained to her was that you can have diabetes beat you and make you sick or you can beat it and win," she continued.
Along with singing, Tori likes to write her own songs, loves to read and also takes part in martial arts at Karate America. She has earned a purple belt and is in the Junior Black Belt Club.
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Tori's younger sister Sophia, 6, also was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Sophia loves her dolls, doing crafts, loves dancing and singing, swimming and also has an orange belt at Karate America.
"She definitely does not let diabetes get in her way," Claire said. "In a way, it's a blessing that both sisters have Type 1; it makes having diabetes easier for them, knowing that they are not going through this alone."
Next year, both Tori and Sophia want to go to Washington, D.C. to be delegates representing Connecticut at the Children's Congress to tell their story and experiences with Type 1 Diabetes.
