Good morning. My name is Michael Thornton, and I am 12 years old. I am from Mr. Kellway's riding of the Beaches—East York, and I am thankful that you have invited me here to speak today.
I am so proud to be a diabetes champion and co-chair for this year's Kids for a Cure Day. I have made it my life's mission to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
From the age of six, when I was diagnosed, I accepted that I had to live with this disease. I will not let my diagnosis interfere with my dreams and goals. My day used to start with a needle and end with a needle. Now I am on an insulin pump, and I only have to change my site once every three days.
I still have to keep testing my blood sugar levels on a constant basis, but I have more flexibility and I don't have to take that many needles now. This helps, but now I have to always have it attached to my body for the rest of my life.
Although I live with the challenges that diabetes brings, I continue to live my life to the fullest. I travel internationally as a top competitor in soccer and track and field, which are my two favourite sports. Everywhere I go I find myself speaking about diabetes and educating those around me on what it is like to live with this disease. I want to show the world that diabetes will not stop me from being the best that I can be.
I have learned to manage this disease very well, calculating my carbs, always testing my blood glucose prior to and after meals and exercise, and I eat extremely healthy.
Still, when I compete in track and field, I wish I could only focus on the race itself. Instead I have to check my blood sugars, adjust my insulin, and take my pump off and store it in a safe place. I have to be really careful that I compete with good blood glucose levels to ensure my best performance. This is really tough to do.
When I play soccer, I wish I didn't have to wear an insulin pump while playing. I wish I could play an entire game without having to test my blood glucose levels before, during, and after a game or practice.
In March I received a special invitation to train and play in the professional soccer club of A.S. Roma's Youth Academy in Italy. Also this past summer, I was a member of the Canadian soccer team that competed in the world junior diabetes cup in Switzerland.
In July of this year I was competing in an international soccer tournament in England when a Manchester City scout took notice of my soccer talent. Now I will be returning back to the United Kingdom to showcase my soccer skills at other professional clubs there. These were experiences of a lifetime. Being able to display my talents internationally is a dream come true.
I have learned to manage my diabetes very well, calculate my carbs, and I am always testing my blood sugar prior to and after meals and exercise. I eat healthy, and I carry a diabetic kit with me everywhere I go. One day I aspire to be one of the best soccer players in the world. To me, a cure for diabetes would mean being able to live a life with more freedom.
The success that I have is not only for me but for everyone who has to live with diabetes. I am a little person, but I know I can make a big difference. It would be a miracle if a cure could be found during my life time, and I will do whatever it takes to make it happen.