How my dog’s health reminds me of living with cystic fibrosis
“You don’t sound so good!” my dad says to the family Shih Tzu, Jasper. And my dad’s right: The little dude (as we affectionately call him) doesn’t sound great. “He’s been coughing…
Advocacy and Abnormality
— Kristin Entler
Kristin Entler was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 6 months old, and first came out as LGBT+ several years after her diabetes diagnosis at 12 years old. She currently serves as poetry editor for NELLE, as access coordinator for Open Mouth Literary Center, and lives with her service-dog, Azzie, whose name is short for the Greek god of medicine. Entler can be found on most social media platforms @findmycure. She hopes her column “Advocacy and Abnormality” is a space for inclusion and solidarity for anyone living in a body that is often seen or treated as different.
Featured Post
Among my many wishes is putting an end to ableist tropes
There’s a myth out there that “a healthy person has a thousand wishes, but a sick person has only one.” As someone with cystic fibrosis (CF), I’ve never had a body I could…
Read more
Calling me ‘inspiring’ isn’t the compliment you think it is
“You’re such an inspiration!” the customer across from me said. I was standing behind the mosaic counter of the art gallery where I volunteered during my teenage years. Hearing this person call me inspiring…
Why talking about our identities, including our diseases, matters
In fourth grade science, we were learning about the research process, starting with the brainstorming stage. My class was assigned to pick a topic from our textbook and report on it, complete with a…
Waiting out spring as I manage my seasonal allergies
I’ve been thinking about the weather and how it affects the body. Despite all the beauty that April brings, the warmer weather that signals to the flowers and trees that it’s time to bud…
Is pulmonary function testing supposed to cause consternation?
“Go, go, go!” my nurse says while coaching me through my pulmonary function test (PFT). I’m pushing air into a mouthpiece that’s connected to a computer with a robotic arm that moves up…
Art as a Means for Survival: A Visit to the Museum
It’s Friday, and after a long morning of stressful clinic calls that included coordinating appointments, negotiating a telehealth option amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and asking for and hoping a prior authorization drops on…
The Reality of an Infusion Set Change With CF-related Diabetes
The rain comes down hard. From my bed I can hear the wind stirring up leaves with its warm air and white noise. Even though it’s morning, it’s not bright. The Omnipod on…
It’s a New Year, but I Still Have the Same Lungs
Here’s a new fact for you to know about me: New Year’s is my favorite holiday season. To me, it starts on Boxing Day, which is officially recognized on the day after Christmas, and…
All I Want for Christmas Is to Feel Normal
In elementary school, the holiday season was always a time of illness. With cold and flu season being driven, in large part, by Thanksgiving travels and family gatherings, it was inevitable that kids…
Here’s My Idea for Better Consumer Access to Prescription Drugs
Imagine this: As an established patient with lifelong illnesses, you walk into any pharmacy, slide an access pass, and walk out with your prescription drug refills in less than five minutes. It didn’t require…
My Return to In-person Events Was a Success
Last week, I went to my first indoor, in-person event since January 2020. Honestly, I’d spent a majority of the time since the COVID-19 pandemic began thinking that my days of attending indoor…
The First Time I Understood the Importance of Solidarity
“I want to get a Popsicle from the ice cream truck!” M’s nutmeg eyes lit up when I asked her what she wanted to do. She was my best friend at the time, and…
Your CF Community
Visit the Cystic Fibrosis News Today forums to connect with others in the CF community.
