She was a former UMKC track and field standout. She had her entire life ahead of her but on January 5th, 2010 Courtney Huber died. She was only 23 and had recently graduated college. Rather than getting kudos over her achievements, Courtney got something else, kicked off her parents insurance policy. Unlike many other recent college graduates Courtney wasn't thinking about her next exciting life challenge -- she was concentrating on how to survive life itself.

A four-time Mid-Continent Conference high jump champion and an eight time all-conference honoree during her career with the Kangaroos had found herself in a position she felt was too embarrassing to talk about. Courtney was secretly ashamed that she no longer had the ability to take care of herself and treat her diabetes. Courtney was made to think that it was time to live on her own -- fend for herself. However the one thing college didn't prepare her for was living without insurance.

Courtney hid her pain from the rest of the world as she carefully rationed out her supply of insulin while working as a waitress in french restaurant she was determined to make a go on her own. Courtney was never one to be found wanting. She never said a word to family or friends. Only when it was too late did the people in her life find out.

Courtney did apply for subsidies but to no avail she didn't fall into any indigent categories and was turned down time and time again. She came to her own conclusion that this was the way things were. Scared and alone yet determined to keep up the fight and improve her way of life she marched on until tragedy struck. Something not even Courtney was prepared for. Weaning herself off of her nighttime regimen of Lantus resulted in acute Ketoacidosis she slipped into a coma never to wake up again and on January 5th, 2010 the world lost a bright and beautiful young woman, her life cut short because she didn't have insurance.