Living Beyond - a Column by Jennifer Bleecher

Today I turned 54. My birthday doesn’t come with a party theme or a cultural rite of passage. However, for someone with cystic fibrosis (CF) like me, it’s a quiet revolution. When I was diagnosed, the average life expectancy was 12 years old. For me, 54 isn’t just a…

I’ve always carried a heavy purse. Stay with me here. Years ago, when I was waiting for a double-lung transplant, my mom would often accompany me to my doctor appointments. She’d graciously offer to carry my bag, but almost always commented on the weight. “What the heck do you…

When I was 17, my appendix ruptured, requiring surgery. Because I had cystic fibrosis (CF), I was admitted to the pediatric CF unit. It was the late 1980s, and most CF patients were still children. Every room had two beds. While the staff tried to give us separate rooms,…

I pushed my mind and body to keep up with those of my peers in my younger years. In high school, despite having cystic fibrosis (CF), I kept up with them socially while also working a part-time job. I graduated, like most of my friends, and then went to…

We’ve been having such a slow-developing spring here in Pennsylvania. The temperatures have been lower than normal, and it feels like it’s been raining for months. I must continually remind myself not to complain about it. Yet some years, it’s felt like we’ve gone from freezing cold and snow to…

I’ve always been open about having cystic fibrosis (CF). Though I don’t include this information when introducing myself, it comes to light soon enough. That’s largely a choice, because it’s often an invisible disease, with many of us appearing physically healthy despite having it. While much of this condition…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with using masks during nebulizer treatments. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I haven’t dealt with many sinus issues in my lifetime. At age 17, I had a nasal polyp…

I live in southeastern Pennsylvania, where the trees and flowers bloom in April and May. In my early adult years, May was usually the month when I’d be hospitalized with a cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary exacerbation. Many times, I chalked it up to being run-down after leading a team…

I was extremely active growing up. I was the point guard on my elementary school’s girls’ basketball team and the catcher on the softball team. I had no problems playing entire games and participating in multiple practices each week. My cystic fibrosis (CF) physician always encouraged my mom to…

I recently agreed to facilitate one of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s CF Circles, which are virtual small-group discussions about a specific topic. The focus of this particular gathering was “Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) over 40.” After my double-lung transplant in 2020, I decided to take a…