Valiant Voice – a Column by Lara Govendo

Counseling is as routine for me as eating. Being born with cystic fibrosis and receiving a double-lung transplant led to recurring mental health struggles, including anxiety and depression, which require continual management. Therapy is one of the tools I use to respond. I began my college years as a young,…

“Why do you keep talking about what you’ve been through?” Yes, I’ve actually been asked this before. No, I won’t stop talking about what I’ve lived through. It’s not for my own sake, but because people continue reaching out to me to say that sharing my story helps them feel…

Prior to my double-lung transplant eight years ago, I didn’t know anything about organ donation. While living with cystic fibrosis (CF), I hadn’t connected with others who had CF, either. I started to dip my toes in these spaces as I approached the transplant evaluation process, finding comfort in…

For me, cystic fibrosis (CF) was extremely aggressive and relentless. Breathing was always a struggle, and I was constantly congested. Germs would set up shop, wreaking havoc on my airways. My days were filled with nebulizers and airway clearance treatments, and beginning and ending each day with both was…

Hitting the trails on one of my favorite hikes, I spent the day atop a mountain, lying in my hammock and gazing up at the bright blue sky. The warm breeze filled my lungs and sparked a sense of excitement. Up there, I was completely alone — no one was…

We typically celebrate an anniversary, but when you live with a chronic health condition like cystic fibrosis (CF), your relationship to certain days on the calendar can be a bit more complicated. They may not be milestones to celebrate, but they can still serve as reminders. I’m thinking…

At this point in my life, I find that the more awkward a situation is, the better. Maybe it stems from a lifetime of awkward moments — most likely. Do I make awkward situations even more awkward? Absolutely. Being born with a chronic illness — cystic fibrosis (CF) —…

My relationship with sleep has always been complicated. Sometimes I wait until the very end of the day, when I’m so exhausted that I just collapse into bed. Other times, I toss and turn, adjust my position 35 times, and eventually fall asleep a few hours later. I’m also prone…

I live with a rare disease. It seems strange to say that because it’s not so rare to me. Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) is the only life I’ve ever known. When I was born, researchers hadn’t yet discovered which gene was affected by CF or what chromosome…

I’m not a jerk; I’m just tired. Admittedly, though, I feel like a jerk sometimes. My eyes widen at the number of private messages that flood my inbox. I know they’re from sweet people who need support and encouragement. “I’ll tackle them another day,” I say aloud. But days can…