Guest Voice: I’m living and loving after my CF diagnosis

I grew up in India, where newborn screening and genetic testing weren’t widely available. For years, I lived in uncertainty, never knowing why my body was failing me. By age 10, I was misdiagnosed with tuberculosis — a common conclusion in India when constant coughing and hemoptysis appear.

Later, I was also diagnosed with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, eosinophilic asthma, and bronchiectasis, but never with the root cause. Symptoms others consider urgent became my normal.

In 2021, I moved to the United States to study biology and pursue a career in healthcare. Within three months, I was hospitalized with an active lung infection. During rounds in the critical care unit, a pulmonologist suggested testing for cystic fibrosis (CF). When the results came back positive, everything shifted. At 19 years old, I finally had an answer: a rare genetic disorder had been shaping my life all along. For the first time, I understood that my suffering wasn’t my fault.

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But before that moment of clarity, I’d lived through years of fear and hopelessness. I had attempted to end my life four times. Self-harm had been an addiction since I was just 13, a way to cope with the unexplainable decline of my body. My CF may be considered “mild to moderate” today, but growing up with no diagnosis, deteriorating health, and no hope for answers, I thought about death more than life.

And yet, I survived.

Living a life of meaning

Devanshi Dubey visited her home in Kota, Rajasthan, India, in December 2024, but she lives in the United States where she received her CF diagnosis. (Courtesy of Devanshi Dubey)

Today, I’m living the healthiest, happiest life I’ve ever known. 2024 was the year I began not just surviving, but truly living. I went skydiving and completed my longest hike. In 2025, I ran my first 5K and took a two-week solo trip to Boston with no itinerary. These weren’t just milestones; they were proof of a life I once believed impossible.

Now, I live with overwhelming love that sometimes brings me to tears. The thought of having missed this, of never feeling this joy, is unbearable. My family and four closest friends are the reason I’m still here. They give me countless reasons to keep going, and because of them, I get to give all the love I once thought I’d never have the chance to share.

I dream of running a marathon, publishing the book I’ve started writing, and advocating for global access to CF treatments and true equity in healthcare. I don’t want to “change the world” in the abstract sense. I want to change the world for the people I meet — the ones who cross my path, even briefly. I want them to feel seen, safe, and inspired simply through how I choose to live.

Because today, I am living. And I refuse to take a single breath for granted. Having lived what many call an “extraordinary” life, even the smallest moments and victories feel rich and almost unreal.

But sometimes I wonder if maybe I’m just too sensitive, if I take life too seriously. I’ve often been told, “Don’t overthink,” or “Just ignore it.” But how do you ignore something that shapes every part of your existence? How do you stop thinking about the one thing that has dictated everything you could or couldn’t do?

Growing up, my world was consumed by managing my health and keeping up with school. I tried many things — dancing, tae kwon do, and other hobbies — but I always had to quit. I’ve tried almost every activity, but my body never allowed me to master any one skill. I became good at things that didn’t demand physical strength, which I’m proud of, but I still feel the weight of everything I couldn’t do.

I never had time to pursue passions fully. I can’t swim to save my life, and I’ve missed out on so many simple experiences that help people connect and socialize, all because sickness filled the space where childhood, hobbies, and skills should have been.

Now that I’m healthier than ever, I’m finally chasing the things I once thought I’d never get to do. The road is long, but I’m learning to be patient with myself. Along the way, I’ve realized that everyone is on their own journey, moving at their own pace. Our paths may not always cross, and that’s OK. What matters is that I’m finally walking mine.

And yet, I often come across people who are not on the same wavelength as me — people who don’t take life as seriously, who cannot keep up with the intensity I live with. I’m drawn to those who carry the same fire, the same zest for life and love that I do. People who want to live with meaning and wake up each morning determined to do so.

Today, I live each day aware of every breath, every moment. I live a life of meaning, love, and purpose, and I know that’s enough to change the world.

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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.