BRUNSWICK — Bowdoin College’s women’s lacrosse team drafted a 10-year-old local on Friday.

Stella Maxim of Brunswick joined the roster and got her own jersey Friday during a draft day celebration.

The event was organized by Team Impact, a nonprofit organization working to improve the quality of life for children facing serious and chronic illnesses.

Maxim was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a toddler.

“You don’t get to do as much stuff as other people,” Maxim said. “I have to keep track of my blood sugar a lot, and I can’t eat certain foods all the time like my friends can. It’s just different because I have to check my blood sugar before I do an activity where I run or use some of my energy.”

If her blood sugar drops too low, it lands her in the nurse’s office. When it’s high, she can’t eat candy or have sugary drinks. That can be tough at birthday parties. And what about Halloween?

“I dose for every single piece (of candy) that I eat,” she said.

She doesn’t like checking her blood sugar and putting a needle in her body every two days.

“It just doesn’t feel like a normal thing a kid does,” she said.

Maxim doesn’t let that stop her from being an active kid. She plays softball, field hockey, basketball and likes to run. Her new teammates are trying to convert her to lacrosse.

“I like to play a lot of sports because it keeps my (blood sugar level) in the right place,” Maxim said. “It’s fun being on a team, hanging out with friends and doing what I want to do.”

Off the field or court, she’s a good student. And she loves unicorns.

Maxim said Team Impact is a good program, especially for kids with illnesses who don’t know what it’s like to be part of a team. She’s found the team of young women gives her energy and courage to take care of herself and pursue her interests. Since 2011, Team Impact has matched more than 1,700 children with more than 500 colleges and universities in 49 states. As a Polar Bear, Maxim attends team practices, games, team dinners and more.

“It’s cool that I just get to be on the field with them and do a lot of things with them,” she said.

Morgan Pinado, a junior lacrosse player, said the team wanted to have a positive impact on a child, and the the experience has brought a new perspective to teammates.

“I really think it’s helped our team chemistry, having someone to rally around,” Pinado said.

The team gets excited to see Maxim and her family show up on the field.

“We were all just so impressed with how mature she is at such a young age, and I do think it has given me a new perspective and a lot of gratitude for not having to think about all the things that Stella has to think about, like checking her blood sugars throughout the day,” said sophomore Irene Lunt. “She’s still so active and is lucky to be able to do all the things she does. But we do all those things sometimes mindlessly.”

Team Impact paired Maxim with the women’s lacrosse team, which she stays with for two years.

“The best part about this program is that she has been really vocal with educating people about her disease, which she hasn’t always done,” said Katy Dicara, Maxim’s mother. “She doesn’t really want to make herself standout. She doesn’t really want to let her classmates all know that she’s a diabetic.”

This is the first time she’s acted as an advocate for herself and felt comfortable doing it.

“She’s come out of her shell a lot,” Dicara said.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

Editor’s Note: Stella Maxim is the daughter of Times Record sports reporter Eric Maxim.