T1D Superhero: Origins
A children’s book about
Type 1 Diabetes, courage, and finding your own superhero strength.
Written & Illustrated by Emily N. Goff
Luka is just your average kid. He likes video games, pretending to be a ninja, funny videos, and chocolate chip cookies.
But Luka is also a superhero.
Not because he can fly. Not because he’s famous.
Because he lives with Type 1 Diabetes—and this is the story of how his superhero journey began.
For the kids who are T1D superheroes, too.
And for the grown-ups who care for them.
A story inspired by real life.
When my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2017, I didn’t know the warning signs and did not realize how sick he was getting right in front of my eyes. We had no family history of the condition.
When I took him to the ER in desperation, it was the last thing I expected to hear. And it split our lives into “before” and “after.”
I created “T1D Superhero: Origins” because I wished we’d had a book like this back then
when he was first diagnosed.
T1D Superhero: Origins was written, illustrated, and independently published by artist Emily N. Goff in late 2020, inspired by her son’s Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis. She drew the pictures, wrote the copy, had a bunch of copies printed at a local Pittsburgh printing house, and then she personally packs and ships all of them herself.
Emily created the book from the perspective of a mother who wished she’d known more about T1D before her son’s diagnosis, and from the hope that another child might see themselves in Luka and feel a little less alone. A new diagnosis can make a child feel like everything has suddenly changed. Luka’s story gives kids someone to recognize themselves in—and reminds them that being brave doesn’t mean being fearless.
Every illustration, every page, and every decision behind this book was made independently, with the goal of creating something that could help families navigate a diagnosis that can feel overwhelming and frightening. Throughout Luka’s story, information is woven into the illustrations to help explain aspects of Type 1 Diabetes in an approachable way.
The Story behind the Story.
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