An Open Letter to the ‘How Are You Feeling?’ Folks
Dear “How are you feeling?” folks, Those of us with a chronic illness hear repeatedly — and secretly dread — questions such as the following: “How are you feeling? How have you been doing?…
Modern CF Mama
— Janeil Whitworth
Janeil Whitworth is a Cleveland native, coffee-drinking, flower-picking, cystic fibrosis fighter. She is living out her wildest dream as a wife and mother to the sweetest baby boy, Fenn, all while managing her health and sanity. She enjoys sharing the incredibly messy and joyful highs and lows of living with a chronic illness on her personal blog, Flowerlungs.
Featured Post
CF ‘Mom Guilt’ Is Hard, but My Best Is Good Enough
“Up, up, up!” my 1-year-old said to me the other day with both hands reaching to the sky. I was having a really bad day, and I was tired and achy from long coughing…
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Your CF Partner Can Help Make You Healthier
It’s true that having a partner in life can be a gift. Sharing the celebrations and sorrows makes life sweeter, especially when you’re living with CF. However, many people with CF struggle with the…
Giving Thanks for the Positive Things CF Has Brought
It’s that time of year when we sit around our tables with carved turkeys, mashed potatoes, and a healthy dose of gratitude in honor of Thanksgiving. Sometimes I struggle to feel grateful. While gratitude…
Rethinking Our Reactions to ‘Five Feet Apart’
The trailer for “Five Feet Apart,” the spring 2019 film about two people with cystic fibrosis (CF) falling in love despite cross-infection guidelines, dropped on social media this month. Like every other…
Tips for Keeping a Germ-free Household
With the dreaded cold and flu season upon us, my household is gearing up to protect ourselves and avoid sickness as much as possible. Everyone with cystic fibrosis is aware of how a simple…
The Claire Wineland Message I Hope We Never Forget
The passionate outpouring following Claire Wineland’s devastating passing last week has exemplified the influence she had on her friends and family, the cystic fibrosis community, and the millions of strangers she inspired. She…
A Plan for a Healthier Season in Parenting
This weekend, my son, wearing a tiny crown and old man suspenders, blew out the candle on his birthday cake. It was beyond adorable and tugged at my mama-heart in the saddest way. The…
Identifying and Addressing 3 Barriers to Treatment Adherence
Cystic fibrosis requires a complex and time-consuming treatment plan beyond what many other chronic illnesses require. It’s important to identify the barriers to treatment adherence and find practical ways to address the issues. Forgetfulness…
What’s the Deal with Breastfeeding and CF?
Happy World Breastfeeding Week! That’s right, in this column we are talking about breasts and the wonderful thing they can do: feed tiny humans. I want to dive into the reasons to breastfeed…
Reflecting on the First Year of Parenthood
With my son’s first birthday fast approaching, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how quickly this first year of parenthood has gone. I know this is the most basic parenthood thing…
9 Ways to Support Someone You Love with CF
Being in a relationship with someone who has CF can be tricky, whether as a co-worker, friend, partner, or family member. It can be hard to know exactly what to do to support them…
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