Columns

I fought cystic fibrosis for 15 years before the overwhelming burden collapsed. My family was driving to get dinner when my brain and heart suddenly exploded. I was sobbing and gasping for breath, able to hear every rapid pound of my heart against my ribs. I couldn’t think,…

Most of last summer was spent either in a hospital bed or lying on my couch — the couch I had watched my cat dying on just months before. I wasn’t in much better condition than my cat. I thought I was defeated, broken. The most activity I had in…

Chronic pulmonary infections are a hallmark of lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis. Due to the variability in bacteria that can colonize the lung and the specific antibiotic treatments that may be effective, treatment strategies are often tailored to individual patients. But some bacterial infections are…

Many of us with pre-existing conditions have been following the news about the future of healthcare in the United States. It really matters to us. Those of us with cystic fibrosis are heavily reliant on access not only to the best doctors, but also to all of the…

“You should write about how it’s impossible to have a life and be sick at the same time.” This is what my partner said this morning, after asking him what the heck my column should be about this week. Honestly, as a mother of two girls, ages…

College is expensive. And when the cost of tuition comes on top of the cost of living with cystic fibrosis, furthering your education can seem daunting. When I was searching for undergraduate scholarships, I was surprised to learn about the number of CF-specific opportunities out there. Many are available only…

“What is the hardest part about living with lung disease?” A curious friend recently asked me this question, and my answer could likely far exceed the maximum word count for this column. Is it the chest pain and wheezing, which often feels like a panic attack that never ends? The…

It’s hard to explain all the emotions a person suffering from a chronic illness goes through. At times it makes you feel sad, angry, and alone. At others it empowers you to be spontaneous, love deeper, and push yourself to set goals you want to fight to live for. Whichever…

Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of being both a patient and a scientist with CF is seeing just how quickly the field is growing. And fortunately, you don’t need an “insider’s knowledge” to see the changes. The CFF Pipeline to a Cure ably captures the exciting eruption of companies…

If I were to introduce myself to you through this column, there are a great many things I could write. I might explain that this actually isn’t my first column (having started my lifelong long dalliance with op-ed at the tender age of 13), or that writing often is…