Articles

My name is Craig Konowal, and I was diagnosed with CF at birth. I was able to get an early diagnosis because I had an older sister who passed away...

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) often need treatment with IV (intravenous) medications, most frequently antibiotics. Vascular access devices, including peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and ports, permit ongoing access to...

When many people think of clinical trials, they may think of testing a new experimental drug or taking a placebo pill. But, not all clinical trials involve treatment! Even among...

Antibiotics are vital medicines for many people. They are drugs that fight infections caused by bacteria, by either killing the bacteria or making it harder for the bacteria to multiply...

Roughly 10 years ago, while at a CF Foundation event during the “My Dream” campaign, a writer for the Foundation asked me a basic but poignant question which, quite simply...

Brandon was my first close CF friend. We met decades ago during a hospital stay as teenagers, before the medical community understood the risks of cross-infection among CF patients. Brandon...

I grew up being hospitalized 2-4 times a year. Typically, it was for a lung infection or gastrointestinal issue. Hospital stays lasted between 14-30 days normally, so it’s no wonder...

Being a mother is a full-time job. Managing cystic fibrosis is a full-time job. Adding those two things together felt, at times, impossible. In the early days of motherhood, I...

I am writing this article now in the wake of having my clinic visit a few days ago. And, let me preface by saying I had a GOOD visit (which...

“Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays,” is a fairly well-known phrase, especially in the working world. It’s an acknowledgment of the fact that weekends are too short...

Due to not being diagnosed until I was 3 and the ensuing malnutrition that comes along with a lifetime of cystic fibrosis (and some “shorty” family genes), I stand at...

I’m a very motivated individual. I always ran for every board, committee, or leadership position I could. I starting working young. I had always wanted a career in real estate...

I’ll admit it. Fall has never been my favorite season. The falling leaves carry with them a very heavy weight for me. The end of summer typically means the end...

Seventy-five minutes a day lost. That is how I felt about my treatment time for most of my life. Yes, I would catch up on my shows, or watch Netflix...

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary disease, which means individuals inherit genes that cause CF. CF causes changes in bodily secretions, particularly in the lungs and pancreas. By understanding the...

All my life I knew I’d be unable to have children biologically, but I never saw that as an obstacle to becoming a mother. I knew from a fairly young...

If only “hospital knowledge” could be used on my resume. I have cystic fibrosis and spent a lot of time growing up in the hospital. As a child, I’d spend...

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is typically diagnosed by a sweat test or with genetic testing, but once a diagnosis has been made, a chest CT scan (also commonly referred to as...

Traveling with cystic fibrosis can be challenging at times. However, CF is manageable with the right preparation and precautions. Although it may seem like a lot more work to travel...

Just as each individual’s journey with cystic fibrosis (CF) can vary, so can their response to different environmental factors. Some may enjoy certain seasons or weather, while others may find...