When Jacquie Stenger and her husband moved back to Lee's Summit from Chicago, they were looking for a place to raise their growing family close to loved ones. They found exactly that. Today, they are raising two children, including their son, CJ, whose Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis at age four changed the course of their lives.
"Being a mom is truly a gift," Stenger said. "What it has taught me is to count every blessing, especially the tiny ones that get lost in the chaos of busy schedules. Life is precious, and I never want to take a moment of it for granted."
Like many parents of children with complex medical needs, Stenger quickly found herself navigating a world of medications, medical devices, insurance requirements, and endless phone calls. What she didn't expect was how difficult it could be to access the supplies CJ depended on every day.
One moment still stands out.
"I remember sitting on our back patio, on the verge of tears, calling every pharmacy within a 100-mile radius trying to hunt down insulin for CJ," she recalled. "There was no room for error. When you're managing a child's life-sustaining medication, that kind of pressure is relentless."
Instead of allowing those experiences to leave her feeling defeated, Stenger turned them into purpose. Drawing on her professional background in healthcare and her family's own journey, she began helping other parents who suddenly found themselves facing the same overwhelming questions.
"Connection happens naturally when you've lived it yourself," she said. "There is nothing quite like talking to another parent in those early days of a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis and being able to say, 'I know exactly what you are going through.'"
Stenger has become actively involved with Breakthrough T1D, helping connect newly diagnosed families with resources, support, and, perhaps most importantly, one another. She is also passionate about advocating for change at the state level, working to improve access to affordable, personalized care so every Missouri family has the support they need.
"What I treasure most is when we cross paths with a newly diagnosed family," she said. "Sometimes people just need to know they aren't alone, and that someone who has been through it is willing to show up for them."
Her message to parents is simple but powerful. Find your community early.
Whether that support comes from family, friends, a nonprofit organization, or another parent who understands the journey firsthand, Stenger believes those connections make all the difference.
"None of us were meant to do this alone," she said. "There is always someone who wants to show up for you, who understands what you're carrying, and who is ready to help lighten the load."
Looking back, Stenger says this experience has changed her in ways she never expected. It has taught her to focus on what matters most, recognize the unseen challenges other families may be carrying, and use what she's learned to help others.
Her advice for any parent facing an unexpected diagnosis is one she continues to live by herself.
"When you see that something needs to change, don't wait for someone else to fix it," she said. "Be the person who is willing to step up, even when it's hard and even when you don't yet have all the answers."
For Stenger, advocating for her son became something much bigger. It became a way to ensure that other families facing similar challenges know they have someone walking beside them, one conversation, one connection, and one act of kindness at a time.