Columns

I’m a Make-A-Wish kid. Rather, I was one. I’m now 30, but I had my wish granted 12 years ago because of my cystic fibrosis (CF). For those unaware, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants children with terminal illnesses and their families a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do whatever they like,…

“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 and down to adjust for the height of the patient using it. My right hand grasps…

For years, the TV news program “60 Minutes” on CBS featured a frequent segment by broadcaster Andy Rooney. In it, Rooney would pontificate on the day’s important topics. Sometimes he’d come up with a solution to a particular problem, while other times he’d rant just to rant. But his purpose…

Recently, an expectant father reached out to me on social media after receiving a prenatal cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis. He told me that he was so grateful to our family for sharing our journey and giving other families hope. These types of messages are my favorite. The truth is,…

I resonate with springtime on a soul level. The hint of warmth in the air, the daffodil buds popping up, and the overall sense of renewal bring me such joy. Spring reminds me of my own rebirth I experienced after my double-lung transplant five years ago. With new lungs,…

I am, in no uncertain terms, not a nature person. I am a city person through and through. I find it comforting to be in a packed subway car rather than in the openness of nature. I prefer the bright city lights at night, not the stars in the sky.

I was never a fan of being single. Despite living life like it was a song that didn’t make the album “Is This It” by The Strokes, I didn’t like the whole process of meeting someone, going on a date, and never talking to them again. One of the…

The ski instructor looked at me puzzled and took another look at our daughter. “What does she have again? She looks fine.” This is a common response when I first tell people Claire has cystic fibrosis (CF). Most people just see a vibrant 4-year-old when they meet her. What…

Isolation runs rampant in the rare disease community. As a byproduct, so does feeling alone. My journey with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been challenging, and I’ve often felt like I’m the only one fighting this disease. Thankfully, I found camaraderie through community right before my double-lung transplant five…

Before I wanted to be a baseball player, I longed to be a film director. This came from watching movies by Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis when I was growing up. I even tried acting, playing the role of an orphan in the musical “Oliver!,” based on…