An update from Preston
It's been a big year for Preston, both on and off the basketball court.
The Year 12 student was a starting player for his school's First V team and represented Manukau Under 18s, while also balancing schoolwork and life with type 1 diabetes. One of the highlights of the year was travelling to Los Angeles and Las Vegas with the Auckland U17 Polynesian Basketball team.
The trip gave Preston the chance to experience a different level of basketball and play against strong opposition from across the United States.
His favourite memory wasn't necessarily one particular game.
After losing their first two matches, the team was struggling for confidence. Their first win felt like a turning point.
After the game, the team performed a haka. People came over to congratulate them and ask about it , and it’s something Preston still remembers as one of the best moments from the tour.
The trip included more than basketball. Preston visited the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and UCLA, and also got to attend a Lakers game with his grandfather.
Receiving a John McLaren Youth Award helped make the opportunity possible.
"The scholarship covered a large portion of the trip costs and took a financial weight off my family's shoulders," says Preston.
The experience was also a big step towards independence. For the first time, Preston travelled overseas without family while managing his type 1 diabetes.
"There wasn't anyone reminding me to check my blood sugar. It was all on me."
His mum, Marietta, says that was one of the biggest milestones of the trip.
"As parents, sending our type 1 diabetic teenager across the world was incredibly tough and stressful," she says. "We made the choice to completely disconnect from his CGM data and let him be in full control."
Not only was Preston playing multiple demanding basketball games every day, he was also managing his diabetes independently.
"The result was the best blood sugar readings he's ever had," says Marietta.
The trip gave Preston and his family confidence as he starts thinking about life after school. He hopes to study architecture at university and is interested in the possibility of studying overseas in the future.
"We know for a fact that diabetes won't stop him from reaching his goals."
