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A few weeks ago, in a remote corner of North Carolina, I turned 30. My parents and I were staying in a rental cabin surrounded by towering tulip poplars and majestic oaks. Situated in a corner of a property aptly called Firefly Cove, we excitedly waited for the sun to…

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…

Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) has required various hardware to be placed in my body, including a port-a-cath in my chest. This allows me to do blood draws and receive medication in the easiest way possible. Although my journey with this device has been like a roller coaster, I’m…

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, including resiliency. At different times — mostly during periods of stability and complacency — I’ve forgotten…

Before my double-lung transplant eight years ago, I notoriously sacrificed my health for my job. I attempted to keep up with the able-bodied people around me, ignoring my limitations, and pushing past what my body could endure. And I paid the price for it. I learned the hard way…

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 felt like I’d received a roundhouse kick to the head while drunk. My head was pounding and I couldn’t think straight. Words were difficult to form. Sentences seemed impossible. This might sound like the result of a wild night of partying, but for me, these were actually signs of…

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…

By the time you read this, I will have just celebrated one year of being married to my incredible husband. I’m by no means an expert, but I’ve already learned a few valuable lessons about marriage in relation to my health. Life with cystic fibrosis and almost eight…