Class of 2026: Celebrating Our Graduates
Graduation is an exciting milestone for any student and family. For those living with GLUT1 Deficiency, it carries an extra sense of pride and accomplishment, and it can also be a time to reflect on the challenges overcome and look back at all the progress that has been made.
This year, we are proud to celebrate three graduates whose journeys have included determination, perseverance, family support, and advocacy. We are inspired by and honored to share their stories, and we join their families in celebrating this special and important accomplishment.
De’Andre Pettus
San Antonio, Texas
Ronald Reagan High School
When De’Andre was finally diagnosed with GLUT1 Deficiency Syndrome, he had already experienced significant challenges. The seizures and effects of his GLUT1 symptoms had left him unable to speak clearly and unable to walk without falling.
Today, his family is celebrating a very different chapter. De’Andre recently attended his senior prom and enjoyed dancing the night away with his classmates. As a graduating senior at Ronald Reagan High School, he also received the Rattler Award in recognition of his daily reading efforts.
His family was excited, proud, and grateful to watch him walk across the stage and receive his diploma – a milestone that once may have seemed out of reach. Reflecting on his journey, they are so thankful for the progress he has made through treatment, perseverance, faith, and his family’s answered prayers.
His grandmother, Faye, shares, “There is hope with God.”
Ashlyn Collins
Madison, Mississippi
Germantown High School
Future Student at Tougaloo College
As Ashlyn prepares to begin college this fall at Tougaloo College, her graduation marks the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and growth.
Ashlyn experienced her first absence seizure at just two months old and was diagnosed with epilepsy as an infant. Even then, her mother noticed a connection between Ashlyn’s symptoms and hunger and worked tirelessly to support her while searching for answers. Because Ashlyn was exclusively breastfed and otherwise appeared healthy and thriving, it took years before her family finally received a diagnosis of GLUT1 Deficiency Syndrome when she was nine years old.
By that time, Ashlyn had already shown remarkable resilience. She met developmental milestones, often ahead of schedule, and continued to move forward despite the challenges she was facing. Once her diagnosis was confirmed, her family began implementing ketogenic therapy. The transition was not easy. Ashlyn loved food and trying new things, and adapting to a ketogenic diet required significant changes for the entire family. To support her daughter, Ashlyn’s mother joined her on the diet so she would never have to face those changes alone.
Over the years, Ashlyn’s journey continued to evolve. Following a move from Florida to Mississippi, her seizures progressed from absence seizures to grand mal seizures, creating new challenges and requiring adjustments to her treatment and daily routines. Through it all, she learned how to manage her condition, understand her body’s needs, and become a strong advocate for herself.
Her family is especially proud of the confidence and independence she has developed. With support from accommodations at school and careful management of her ketogenic therapy, Ashlyn has participated in track, joined the bowling team, attended homecoming and prom, traveled, and enjoyed many of the experiences that come with being a teenager. Along the way, she has learned how to balance responsibility for her health while continuing to pursue her goals and interests.
Today, Ashlyn is a knowledgeable self-advocate who understands her condition and confidently speaks up for what she needs. Her family describes her as positive, compassionate, and always willing to help others. They are proud not only of her accomplishments, but of the young woman she has become.
As she begins this next chapter at Tougaloo College, Ashlyn’s graduation stands as a reflection of years of determination, advocacy, resilience, and family support. We join her family in celebrating all she has accomplished and look forward to seeing what comes next.
Joelle Sutton
Anderson, Indiana
Anderson High School
For Joelle’s family, graduation day brought back memories of a very different time.
Before receiving her GLUT1 diagnosis, her family was faced with difficult conversations and uncertainty about what the future might hold. At one point, doctors asked whether they wanted to continue testing or simply enjoy whatever time they might have left with their daughter.
Fortunately, they continued searching for answers. That search ultimately led to a GLUT1 diagnosis and treatment with ketogenic therapy, which changed the course of Joelle’s life.
Her family remembers a time when they were unsure whether she would ever learn to walk. This year, they watched her joyfully walk across the graduation stage and receive her diploma.
It was a moment filled with pride, gratitude, and appreciation for how far she has come.
Congratulations, Graduates!
To De’Andre, Ashlyn, and Joelle – congratulations on this incredible achievement. Your stories inspire us and remind us that every milestone matters and that progress often comes one step at a time. We are proud to celebrate this moment with you and your families and look forward to seeing what comes next.
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
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