In less than two years, 13-year-old Chloe Pena will have gone from receiving the life-changing diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes to advocating before the United States Congress in the hopes of improving the lives of others with the same health condition.

From July 8-10, Chloe will join over 160 other kids from across the U.S. and from five other countries aged 4-17 in the nation’s capital as part of the 2019 JDRF Children’s Congress, which is an international effort to lobby Congress about the importance of funding diabetes research to develop new treatments, technologies and, ultimately, a cure.

Chloe and her family will have a full two-day schedule in D.C. In addition to lobbying in front of Congress, they will participate in Q&A forums and attend panel conversations with famous individuals who also have Type 1 diabetes – such as actor Victor Garber, top ESPN sports journalist Adam Schefter, NASCAR driver Ryan Reed and American Ninja Warrior participant Christina Martin.

“I couldn’t really believe it,” Chloe said of learning she was chosen for the program earlier this year. “I was really excited.”

Now entering eighth grade at Warwick Veterans Middle School, Chloe was just 11 years old when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Thankfully, due to her mother’s vigilance and past family history with the disease, the Pena family was able to hit the ground running for treatment, and Chloe didn’t require hospitalization as some face when first learning they are diabetic.

“We saw some of the signs early on,” said Chloe’s mother, Traci. “I guess it was mother’s instinct to call the doctor and get a prescription because she was going away to another camp where she’d be sleeping over.”

For some, adjusting to life with diabetes can be taxing. And although Chloe said that she has had to make some of those adjustments – like testing her blood sugar every two hours in the early stages of her diagnosis – she has tackled the disease with a palpably positive spirit and determination.

The JDRF website provides a short biography of Chloe’s journey features a photo of her getting her first insulin shot. She is smiling as though the picture depicts her learning she will be going to Disney World.

“She’s been strong since day one,” said Chloe’s father, Marc. “Since the first day she found out, she was ready. I don’t know why, but she was.”

“From the first day, giving herself shots, doing the calculations, carb ratios, she’s really taken this on very well,” Traci said.

“With a bang,” clarified her sister, Sophia.

Chloe thanked her family for their support throughout her journey, as well as her friends and teachers.

“My teacher last year was really nice and, if I was down at the nurse for a while, she would catch me up on everything, and so would my friends,” she said.

“They’ve been very accommodating,” Traci agreed, speaking of the Warwick Vets staff.

Chloe also gave a special shout-out to Camp Surefire, a specialized camp in Bristol for teenagers with diabetes. It provides a sense of normalcy to kids who otherwise may feel more than a little different from their peers who don’t have to be concerned with things like making sure their glucose levels are sufficient to exercise, or eat certain foods.

However, Chloe said that she doesn’t necessarily feel any different from anybody else now that she has a good handle on her diabetes.

“In the beginning it kind of made me feel different, but now it’s kind of just who I am,” she said.

Chloe said she doesn’t know exactly what her message will be to Congress yet. She admits to being a little nervous, but also knows precisely what she hopes to achieve, as seen in her video message that was part of her application process to be a part of the Children’s Congress.

“I’m trying to make Type 1 into ‘Type None,’” she said in the video.

“I just think it’s a very exciting opportunity and I’m proud of her,” Traci added. “I hope she enjoys it and takes it all in.”