What does aging well with cystic fibrosis look like?
I have been thinking a lot about aging lately. I think about it when I notice that it takes my dog, Duncan, a second longer to stand up after a nap; I think…
Mutations & Conversations
— Tré LaRosa
Tré LaRosa is a scientific project manager, patient advocate, and writer. He has cystic fibrosis (CF) and carries two copies of the F508del mutation. He’s been on Trikafta since 2019. He writes about science, living with CF, grief, family, and everything in between in an effort to get you thinking about what it means to be human. He lives in Arlington, Virginia with his fiancée Jessica and their two wonderful, lazy dogs, Duncan and Leo. He enjoys playing sports, being outdoors, and reading — and especially buying more books.
Featured Post
My dog’s sudden illness reminded me what it means to be resilient
Like many others, I never want to feel like cystic fibrosis (CF) is holding me back in any way. Yet the condition has shaped many of my experiences and taught me so much,…
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CF-related diabetes has been a perplexing challenge for me
Growing up, one of the worst parts of having cystic fibrosis (CF) was the gross orange cocktail I had to drink as part of my annual oral glucose tolerance test. This nightmarish,…
Bridging the Divide Between the Individual and the Community
When I was asked to write this column over two years ago, I was thrilled, but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to write about. I knew I would have some leniency to…
Searching for Motivation as I Struggle With Depression
When I took Advanced Placement psychology in high school, a few subjects stuck out to me as being intuitive. I was weirded out by this because the majority of school lessons were not intuitive.
Amid Mental Health Struggles, It’s Challenging to Work and Be Productive
I can’t separate my physical malady from my mental diseases. Cystic fibrosis, depression, and anxiety are all linked, and they’re all separate. I think of my blend of comorbidities as a morbid sort…
Surveys Play a Critical Role in Improving the Patient Experience
I used to dislike surveys, polls, and questionnaires. I understood why they existed — customer or patient feedback is important — but I never really saw anything change once I took a survey. I…
How I’ve Learned to Use My Insecurity to My Advantage
I recently saw a meme in which a person is smiling or laughing in the first panel, then looks utterly dismayed in the second. The second panel’s overlay reads: “Tfw [that feeling when] I…
The Long Journey of Learning to Love My Own Body
I used to be ashamed about my insecurities. I believed that as a man, I was supposed to be strong. I was supposed to silently hate myself, my appearance, and my body, while…
Yes, I Will Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
I can’t remember when I first fell in love with science. I loved learning about it and going on field trips, but I didn’t enjoy science fairs because I missed hanging out with my…
A Letter to Those Struggling During the Holiday Season
Two years ago, I found myself drinking a cup of coffee in a quiet coffee shop in downtown Chicago. I still struggled to call myself a writer or understand my writing goals. (Though, by…
My Experience With COVID-19
Life would be much easier if every complicated disease or disorder weren’t so complicated. COVID-19, cystic fibrosis, depression — if they all manifested uniformly and could be treated the same across the afflicted population,…
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