My name is Chris, and I’ve been living with type 1 diabetes for 37 years. I feel incredibly blessed to still be here after several close calls, but the journey hasn’t been easy. Two years ago, I was dropped from Medicaid, and since then, managing my diabetes has become a daily struggle—both physically and financially. Despite these challenges, I’ve been working hard to create more income and stay alive.

My partner and I own a very small liquor store in rural Colorado, and we’ve poured our hearts into building a takeout pizza place from the ground up, with no loans. We’re so close to launching, but we’re facing the slowest time of year and the financial strain is overwhelming. The stress of trying to keep our dream alive has made it even harder to regulate my sugar levels, and there are days when I truly fear for my life. We stand to lose everything we’ve worked so hard for, and it’s been a heavy burden to carry.

Your donations will help cover my diabetes-related medical costs and give us the final push we need to open our pizza place. This support will help me stay healthy and balanced, and will help my partner and I get through this challenging time without losing everything. To everyone that helps, thank you so much! Love you, love life! From the bottom of my heart, Whitey.