Guest Voice: On becoming a devoted mother while living with CF
Motherhood with cystic fibrosis is both miraculous and challenging
Despite potential complications from cystic fibrosis, Jennifer McKinnon had always wanted to become a mother. (Courtesy of Jennifer McKinnon)
Jennifer McKinnon was born with cystic fibrosis (CF), and from a young age, she learned what it meant to fight for every breath. Hospitalizations and countless medications and other treatments became part of her routine, but so did hope, resilience, and an unshakable will to keep going. Tackling each challenge with fierce determination, she embraced the mantra that life is an adventure. She’s not just surviving; she’s thriving.
Cystic fibrosis has always been a defining part of my life, but I’ve never let it be the only part.
Living with CF means managing a disease that never takes a day off. It entails hours of breathing treatments, medications, doctor appointments, and a constant awareness that one’s body is working harder just to keep up. But even through the exhaustion and uncertainty, I always held on to one dream: becoming a mother.
From a young age, I was told pregnancy might not be safe for me. CF puts a significant strain on the lungs and body, and the risks were too high. Still, I didn’t let that stop me from hoping — and planning. With the support of an incredible medical team and an unmatched gift of love from my sister, who volunteered to be my gestational carrier, my dream came true. I became a mom to healthy, beautiful twin girls.
That day changed everything.
Being a mom to twins Stella, left, and Teagan, right, is a dream come true for Jennifer McKinnon, center. (Courtesy of Jennifer McKinnon)
Motherhood with CF is an experience like no other, equally miraculous, exhausting, joyful, and challenging. I wake up thinking not only about my lung function and how much airway clearance I’ll need that day, but also how I’ll pack lunches, get the girls to school, and show up for them emotionally and physically.
It takes planning. It takes asking for help. It takes prioritizing both my health and their happiness, often at the same time. Some mornings I have treatments while watching them eat breakfast. Some days I rest more so that I can be present for the little moments that matter most, such as driving them to practice, late-night chats, and kissing them good night. I’ve learned to make space for both taking care of myself and showing up fully as their mom.
I’ve also learned to let go of perfection. I may not parent the same way that someone without a chronic illness does, but my children are loved deeply, and they’re learning empathy, patience, and strength simply by seeing what I overcome every day.
Motherhood didn’t come easily to me, and it certainly didn’t come traditionally. But it came, and it’s filled my life with purpose in ways I never could’ve imagined. My kids don’t just make my world brighter; they make me stronger. Because of them, I fight harder. Because of CF, I love more deeply. And because of both, I live every day with intention.
As a single mother to 14-year-old twins, a passionate storyteller, and the voice behind the platform Just One More Breath …, I continue to prove that life with CF may be unpredictable, but it can also be beautiful, powerful, and full of purpose.
This isn’t the motherhood journey I expected, but it’s the one I was meant for.
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Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.
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