Columns

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…

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…

Nurses save lives. It might sound dramatic, but it’s true. Throughout my journey with cystic fibrosis (CF) and a double-lung transplant nearly eight years ago, I’ve encountered nurses in every season of life. They’ve been present in both inpatient and outpatient settings. They’ve coordinated my care, worked behind…

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…

The current United States is, in many ways, not the United States where I grew up. In my view, our sense of decorum has changed. Given that, I’m concerned about communities of marginalized people who, in my lifetime, have had to fight for fair and equal rights. I’m thinking of…

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…

Poop is a hot topic in my household. For me, having cystic fibrosis (CF) means having pancreatic insufficiency. Therefore, I don’t produce enough digestive enzymes to break down my food. It’s a constant balancing act of ensuring that I take enough enzymes with higher fat foods and not…