Our First Friends for Life Orlando: A Week Where We Finally Belonged

Feb 2
5 min read

Updated: Feb 6

In July 2025, our family attended Friends for Life Orlando for the very first time — thanks to the First-Time Attendees Scholarship, which covered both our hotel stay and our conference access. What we experienced that week was beyond anything we imagined.

Friends for Life Orlando is one of the world’s largest and most impactful conferences for people living with type 1 diabetes and their loved ones. Hosted annually by Children with Diabetes, it brings together thousands of families, adults, teens, kids, clinicians, researchers, and industry partners for several days of education, connection, and community. With sessions tailored to every age group, hands-on workshops, cutting-edge research updates, and a strong emphasis on emotional well-being, FFL creates a safe, vibrant space where everyone affected by T1D can learn, feel understood, and truly thrive.

This wasn’t just a conference. This wasn’t just an event. It was a world where our family truly belonged.

From the moment we checked in on Tuesday, we were welcomed into something extraordinary — the nonstop beeping of pumps and CGMs, site changes happening right in the hallways, volunteers at every corner ready to help, and a warm, powerful sense of community wrapped around us. With the 2025 theme, Superheroes, the entire week felt exciting, energetic, and full of heart.

TrialNet, Real Stories, and the Moment I Knew “This Is Our Place”

Right after checking in, we completed a quick and simple TrialNet screening — something incredibly important for families like ours.

Then we headed to our very first First Timers Session, sponsored by Dexcom, and that was the moment everything clicked for me.

Real people. Real stories. Real challenges. Real solutions.

It was honest and raw in the best possible way. I looked around the room and instantly felt it —We are meant to be here.

The Youth Program: Where Kids Just Get It

Before I dive back into the adult sessions, I need to talk about what quickly became my son’s absolute favorite part of Friends for Life: the Youth Program.

Kids are grouped by age, each group supported by a team of volunteers — including a dedicated medical team. The kids spend their day learning, playing, connecting, laughing, and being surrounded by peers who understand exactly what it means to live with T1D.

No judgment. No explanations needed. Just life. Just joy. Just belonging.

Their schedules match the adult conference schedules, so we pick them up during breaks, reconnect, and send them off again to continue the fun. Every single day, my son came back glowing, excited, and full of stories.

Adult Sessions: Learning, Connecting, and Feeling Empowered

Throughout the week, my husband and I split up to cover more sessions — and attended several together. Every conference we went to offered real tools, real conversations, and real community.

Podder® Meetup & Social Hour – Sponsored by Omnipod

I met incredible parents, longtime users, and Omnipod staff. We shared experiences, tips, struggles, and tricks. I even had the chance to talk with the Omnipod team about questions I’ve had for years — like skin protection and sticker durability in the Florida summer heat.

Full Throttle: Meet an INDYCAR Driver with T1D – Sponsored by MannKind

My husband came back moved and inspired. Hearing a high-performance driver explain how he manages T1D at top speed gave him a new appreciation for resilience and adaptability.

Rise of the Glucose Guardians – Sponsored by Dexcom

We attended this together — and we loved it! We learned about device issues, upcoming technologies, and real-world hacks. It felt like a true two-way conversation, and the Dexcom team listened to us.

Voices of the Community – Sponsored by Sanofi

This session touched our family deeply.

We heard from:

Chad Muma, who has been an inspiration to us since we first met him in 2022.
The Van Brocklin Family, whose story highlighted the life-saving power of early screening.

Their honesty, strength, and vulnerability left a lasting impact.

Opening Ceremony & Exhibit Hall: The Ultimate T1D Playground

And then… the doors opened.

The Opening Ceremony and Exhibit Hall were everything people said and more.

Just WOW.

Lights, excitement, massive displays, creative booths from every sponsor, and that electric feeling of a huge community coming together. We visited every booth, collected swag, tried new products, played games, and talked to amazing people.

My son had the time of his life — and honestly, we did too.

Thursday: Inspiration, Education & Powerful New Experiences

Thursday began with an emotional and motivating keynote from Tiana Cooks, who shared her T1D story and how it shaped her confidence and strength. She set the tone for an incredible day.

We attended sessions covering everything from:

Managing sick days
Navigating insurance
Advocacy
Understanding new tech

But the most impactful part of the day was something I never expected:

We got to try wearing an Omnipod ourselves.

Omnipod offered saline-filled pods so caregivers could feel:

the cannula insertion
the weight
the itchiness
the awareness of having something attached
the accidental bumps
the overall daily experience our kids live with

It was powerful. It was emotional. It changed the way I understand my son’s strength.

We also got to try the Dexcom Stelo, seeing live glucose readings on ourselves just like we do with him. Another eye-opening experience.

Friends for Life Banquet

Thursday night was the big banquet — and it was AMAZING. Great food, fun energy, dancing, excitement everywhere.

And best of all…It was my birthday! There was no better way to celebrate. My son, only seven years old, danced and enjoyed every second of it.

Friday & the Weekend: Learning, Laughing, and New Friendships

On Friday, we learned about nutrition and exercise, enjoyed the hotel pool, and attended a Wine Down meet-up where I met wonderful moms and made a cute craft. That night, Dexcom sponsored a family movie night — the perfect cozy ending.

Saturday and Sunday arrived quickly, filled with:

T1D video games
Meeting developers and gamers
More memories
More joy
More community

Farewell Breakfast & the 2026 Theme Reveal

At the Farewell Breakfast, the 2026 theme was revealed — Wild Wild West!A CWD staff member gave my son a cowboy hat, and we immediately knew:

Oh, we are definitely coming back.

We Want to Return to Friends for Life Orlando 2026 — And We Need Your Support

Friends for Life Orlando changed our family forever — it gave us knowledge, hope, community, and a place where our son truly felt understood. We want to return in 2026 so we can keep learning, growing, and building the support system that helps us navigate Type 1 Diabetes with strength and confidence. Your donation, no matter the amount, directly helps us access life-changing education, medical resources, emotional support, and a community that has become like family. If our story touched your heart, please consider supporting our journey.

DONATE HERE

Thank you for helping us continue this empowering experience — your kindness means more than you know.