Valiant Voice – a Column by Lara Govendo

I’ve been anxious since the removal of my beloved port-a-cath. Living with cystic fibrosis has frequently necessitated the use of intravenous antibiotics. A few years prior to my double-lung transplant in 2017, I needed IVs every few weeks. But my veins grew tired, so I had a…

My husband, Chris, and I celebrated two years of marriage on May 25, but it feels like we’ve been together longer, given all that we’ve been through this year, which saw way more sickness than health. As I reflect on the past year, I’m so grateful for my husband, who…

I recently underwent surgery to clear up a sinus infection. Even though I had a double-lung transplant eight years ago, cystic fibrosis (CF) still often results in thick, sticky mucus clogging up my sinuses and becoming a breeding ground for germs. I’ve lost track of how many sinus…

I learned early on in my life with cystic fibrosis (CF) that coping with a chronic illness is all about the long game. Prior to my double-lung transplant eight years ago, I had to learn how to deal with a lot of uncertainty. Wrestling with matters of life…

Cystic fibrosis (CF) tends to take up a lot of space in my life. Sometimes it’s so all-consuming that I don’t get to focus on anything else, and I must wrestle to separate my identity from this label that I never chose. But CF is not my whole life…

Nearly eight years ago, I flew to Salt Lake City for the Transplant Games of America (TGA). It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Life-changing, in fact. It had been almost a year since my double-lung transplant due to cystic fibrosis (CF). That first year…

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…