Living

One of the best things about growing up and finishing high school is the excitement of going to college. It was a different path for me because I did not...

Let’s talk about exercising with cystic fibrosis. (Soft groan from the peanut gallery). Everyone’s aware of how important it is for both your physical and mental health to exercise regularly...

Our current life events in shutdown and quarantine remind me how twenty-five years ago when my son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, my world stopped. My immediate, “protective mom” reaction...

In January 1990, my parents sat staring anxiously at the person with a Ph.D. who was breaking the news; your beautiful baby girl has a genetic condition, it's called cystic...

In my teenage years, I struggled heavily with CF treatment compliance. I had a very laid-back approach to my health that bordered on apathy. I would forget to do treatments...

There’s a topic I usually don’t talk about because it was hard to come to terms with it. I found courage and strength to talk about this because I don’t...

As a busy mother, I spend a lot of time multitasking and rushing out the door to some engagement or errand I have most certainly forgotten. In the midst of...

I’ve seen so many incredible improvements from Trikafta, as you may have read in Part 1. I expected Trikafta to primarily help my lungs, as other modifiers have, but I...

My long, winding path to motherhood with cystic fibrosis continues from where we left off last. In case you missed the beginning of this story, here's a summary: a pre-teen...

Receiving a cystic fibrosis diagnosis can be a life-altering experience, not only for the person with the diagnosis, but also for the spouse, child, parent or friend who becomes the...

Summertime is like a relieving deep breath for a lot of people in the cystic fibrosis community. During this season, the increased risk of seasonal flu and colds dies away...

It’s stressful being sick with a genetic disease that causes a wide range of chronic symptoms. It’s even harder being the only one in the family who was seriously sick...

In part one of this series, I shared some considerations to take into account before deciding to conceive with cystic fibrosis. Focusing mostly on health, they included: maximizing health status...

Six months ago I began taking Trikafta--a life-changing treatment for cystic fibrosis. While Trikafta is not a cure, I affectionately refer to it as my “silver bullet.” I’ve noticed so...

If you or a loved one has CF, you probably know that it can dictate what types of hobbies we can have. We asked our advocate team, "How has CF...

Right now my kids are outside playing together in the sprinkler. I hear them laughing and having a great time out there. They are two years apart and, while they...

Apart from the fun and joy animals bring us, animals can also be natural healers, especially when we welcome them into our homes. There’s growing research showing pet ownership has...

Insomnia is so common with cystic fibrosis (CF). I find it a miracle when I can sleep for more than 4 to 5 hours at a time. Some days even...

As people with cystic fibrosis continue to live longer and healthier lives, adult milestones are becoming more attainable. For the first time, many men and women with CF are considering...

One of the difficult things about having CF is home infusions and or hospital stays. For me, hospital stays usually last a week or more. During admissions, there’s a constant...