Work that Works – a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

Elly Aylwin-Foster (yes, folks, that’s what an Anglican-Celtic name looks like) is a writer and communications strategist with cystic dibrosis and CF-related diabetes. She lives in Cambridge, U.K., with her partner and two cats, Mack and April. She is partial to a good hike, coffee, yoga, and dreams of life out in the open.

January 16, 2020January 16, 2020

I’m Taking a Break from Sharing My Story

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

I don’t want to talk about it anymore. I’ve gone from being an out-and-proud chronic illness advocate to someone craving something akin to a total cystic fibrosis blackout. I ... Read more

August 1, 2019September 11, 2019

Let’s Talk About Money: Dollars and Disabilities in the Workplace

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

A common perception about those with disabilities is that when they find a job, they are so appreciative that they are the most dedicated, loyal employees in the building. ... Read more

July 25, 2019September 11, 2019

Use Me for Something Good

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

I’m not sure what I’m here for, but I hope it’s something good. From the ages of 8 to 12, I thought I was designed for warfare. My father ... Read more

July 18, 2019July 16, 2019

How Much CF Do You Choose to Show?

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

Getting older has its perks. With each passing year, I find I’m a little more willing to reveal. I feel more open to showing my true skin. I used ... Read more

July 11, 2019August 26, 2019

What Does It Mean to Be a Patient?

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

I have a funny relationship with the P-word. It feels as familiar as my own skin, yet somehow still alien. At clinics when I was growing up, I used ... Read more

June 27, 2019June 25, 2019

From Boom to Bust: Managing Work with CF

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

Three weeks ago, I gave a guest lecture to the MBA class at the University of Cambridge. The next day, I traveled to Liverpool and appeared onstage with my ... Read more

June 20, 2019June 18, 2019

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Information Overload

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

This time last week, aided by copious amounts of coffee, I was putting the finishing touches on a presentation I would deliver the next day in Berlin. I was ... Read more

June 6, 2019June 4, 2019

Full Disclosure: A Tale of Professional Rejection

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

Disclosure. What a heavy word. While most people have some aspect of their lives hidden from view — or perhaps kept secret — for someone with cystic fibrosis (CF), ... Read more

May 30, 2019May 28, 2019

Work, Motherhood, and CF: Can You Have It All?

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

I’ve been invited by Dr. Susan Madge to speak at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and CF Europe Community Afternoon in June. Dr. Madge, director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis ... Read more

May 23, 2019May 22, 2019

The Work of ‘Project Fix Me’ Is Never Done

Columns, Work that Works - a Column by Elly Aylwin-Foster

I’m restless. My eyes are red-rimmed from late-night Google searches. I can’t sleep, in part thanks to CF symptoms, in part because of a mind that’s running too hot, ... Read more