Becoming a Riley Family: Riley mom Nicole Pence Becker shares her family’s journey through her son’s diagnosis

No one ever expects to become a Riley family.

You don’t imagine your child needing specialists to help them safely navigate each day, or a diagnosis that suddenly reshapes what “normal” looks like at home. And yet, in 2022, our family, my husband Jason, our four sons Andrew, Colin, Matthew, and Luke, and I, became a Riley family. While that distinction comes with fear and uncertainty, it also comes with immense gratitude. Because if you are a Riley family, you quickly learn just how fortunate you are to have Riley Children’s Health walking beside you.

What makes this journey especially meaningful to me is that Riley had been part of my life long before Matthew’s diagnosis—just not in the way I ever expected. Earlier in my career as a television journalist in Indianapolis, I often had the privilege of telling stories from the Riley community. Through a segment called Wishful Wednesday, I met children battling serious illnesses, interviewed their families, and watched Riley doctors, nurses, and staff wrap them in exceptional care, compassion, and hope. I joined Women for Riley after retiring from TV, wanting to remain connected to a mission that had always inspired me.

I had no idea how personal that mission would become. Our family will never forget the day our brave son Matthew was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He was five years old, newly in kindergarten, and hadn’t been feeling well for some time. As his mom, I could sense something wasn’t right and whatever it was, it mattered. When the diagnosis finally came, it was shocking, overwhelming, and terrifying. We felt relief in finally having answers, but those answers also meant acknowledging a chronic condition that would touch every part of Matthew’s life, day and night.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with no cure. Managing it requires constant vigilance. We monitor blood sugar levels, count carbohydrates, adjust insulin, and are always prepared for emergencies. There are no days off. In our household, juice boxes can save a life. A phone isn’t just a phone—it’s a medical device. The medicine keeping Matthew alive can also cause dangerous lows.

This is hard—for all of us—but especially for Matthew. Explaining something so complex to a five-year-old, and to his three brothers, wasn’t easy. So we leaned into something Matthew understood well: superheroes. We decided Matthew was our Iron Man.

Like the character, he is strong, brave, resilient, and incredibly smart. Like Iron Man, Matthew relies on technology to stay alive. His insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor became his version of Jarvis, the system helping him function at his best. That first Halloween after his diagnosis, all four of our boys dressed up as Iron Man to show their love and support. I even joined in as Pepper Potts, because in a house full of boys, I wasn’t about to miss out.

But even superheroes need a team.

From our very first appointment at Riley, we knew Matthew was exactly where he needed to be. The warmth, expertise, and reassurance we felt were immediate, and they’ve never faded. Over the past three years, Matthew has flourished under the care of an extraordinary team, including Tamara S. Hannon, MD, and Amy S. Hatton, NP, who not only manage his medical needs but truly know him. Today, his blood sugar levels are in range about 70 percent of the time which, if you know anything about Type 1 diabetes or an 8-year-old’s eating habits, is a strong achievement.

Even more importantly, Riley helps parents like us carry the weight of managing a chronic condition, so our children can focus on what matters most: being kids.

Riley’s impact doesn’t stop at the hospital doors. Their teams are constant partners in our everyday lives—answering emails, adjusting carb ratios, troubleshooting technology issues, and even helping us develop an ice cream strategy. They train school nurses, equip caregivers, and ensure that the people supporting Matthew beyond Riley are fully prepared to keep him safe and healthy. Riley truly wraps their arms around the whole family.

When I look at Matthew today, he’s a thriving, confident 9-year-old and is surrounded by support. It reminds me why this mission matters so deeply. Every child deserves access to this level of care. Every child deserves a team that sees their full potential, not just their diagnosis.

Every child deserves Riley. Our family never planned to become a Riley family, but we are forever grateful.

Because Riley doesn’t just treat conditions—it lifts families, strengthens communities, and gives children like Matthew the chance to live boldly, bravely, and fully.