Columns

“My gut is the source of most of my sickness.” I say this a lot. I say it to explain why I’m not what I’m “Supposed to Be” as someone with cystic fibrosis (CF). I say this to help others understand. I have lung disease, light scarring, and varying infections…

A few months ago, I was chatting online with the parents of an infant who was newly diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). They discussed how their lives would change and the precautions they’d have to take with CF in their lives. Most seemed sensible to me — no…

I had an experimental stem cell transplant five years ago and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. In all honesty, I don’t actually know how much my stem cells helped because it happened during a confusing period. In the same six-month stretch, I found out I…

I’m always promising people I’ll write a memoir … at some point. Once, I got 46,853 words deep before realizing that my writing style had evolved enough that, “Mmm, that draft is trash.” Recently, I gave it another jab. I leave my writing raw, still bleeding and unfiltered to depict…

Hey kid, You better brace yourself. Other adults in your life are already telling you this, but you better learn to listen up. Your parents know a bit better than you do, but I’ll give you this: You’re smart, you’re ambitious, you’re idealistic, and you have a sensitive heart. You…

As a new columnist for Cystic Fibrosis News Today, I am honored to join a team of radically talented writers! My name is Lara, and most people call me “LAR-ah.” Many mistakenly call me Laura. The first syllable rhymes with car. Pronouncing my name correctly ranks you highly in…

Last week led me to reflect on how things change with time. Looking back on the obstacles I have overcome and the stepping stones navigated help me to appreciate the present. Last Wednesday I drove home from a checkup at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. My lung function was…

My brain felt broken. I didn’t know what to do, even after three years of dealing with depression and anxiety. Our language around our mental health discourse is woefully insufficient. We don’t treat depression or anxiety the way we treat diabetes or cystic fibrosis or heart disease. We…

I’ve been fortunate to start taking Trikafta, a next-generation, triple-combination treatment for cystic fibrosis. My journey began in December, but it hasn’t been the easiest path to walk along, as I’ve encountered unexpected twists and turns. How Trikafta affects someone’s relationship with their…

I’m going to say something that not everyone wants to hear: Just because we are sick doesn’t mean we get to be bad people. Let me explain. I have an inclusive dance company called Comebacks that I co-direct with an occupational therapist. Within this company, we have a variety…