Understanding Nonsense - a Column by Willian Ryan

William is a former standup comedian from the Garden State, New Jersey. He manages cystic fibrosis caused by a rare nonsense mutation, plus cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. William and his wife, Gina, live with their two dogs, Otis and Ruby. Through his column, “Understanding Nonsense," William bridges his humor, love of sports, and pop culture. William writes to advocate for all of those with CF, especially those with rare mutations.

Disabled Politicians Can Lead the Way

When I did standup comedy back in the day, I had a bit I worked on for a while, but could never quite get right. The routine assumed that if I, a person with cystic fibrosis, ever decided to run for political office, I’d be forced to make myself…

The Ups and Downs of a Cystic Fibrosis Hospital Stay

Being hospitalized for any length of time is a never-ending grind that never ceases to amaze me, both in good and annoying ways. I wouldn’t say bad, necessarily, but it definitely feels like I’m in a hamster wheel at times. As I write this, I’ve been in the hospital for…

What Jesuit Education Taught Me While I Was Hospitalized

I’m the proud product of a Jesuit education. For eight years, I studied under the tutelage of wise educators who were Jesuits, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church that was formed by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century. The modern calling card of Jesuit education is…

What Is Survivor’s Guilt and How Do We Process It?

There is never an ideal way to encounter survivor’s guilt. It’ll be foisted upon you like a dumpster on your front porch. It’s unnecessary baggage that you didn’t know you’d have to carry, but now it’s here. I think it’s ultimately a selfish feeling, but sometimes we all have selfish…