Jennifer Bleecher, diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in her first few days of life, has been defying the odds of her disease for the majority of her life. She has a daughter, worked as a nurse for 20 years, and then received the gift of life through a bilateral lung transplant in 2020 during the pandemic. Jennifer is the self-published author of a children’s picture book, “The Friendship Umbrella,” which teaches about being kind, helping others, and appreciating each other’s differences. Jennifer loves dogs and music, has a strong faith in God, and has always chosen to count her blessings instead of her struggles.
To follow my column last week about the rate of divorce after surviving advanced cystic fibrosis (CF) and double-lung transplant, this week I’ll focus on the intricate balance of living while dying. Don’t…
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In a private Facebook group for adults living with cystic fibrosis (CF), a post jumped out at me asking if anyone had gone through a divorce after their double-lung transplant. The post instantly…
In the first few days after my double-lung transplant in 2020, I was looking at a hand-held mirror and saw a central venous catheter protruding from the left side of my neck. A large,…
The power of water is underrated. If you Google it, you’ll see you can delve into multiple aspects of water’s properties, including how it supports thermal energy, hydropower, transportation, and anti-erosion efforts. It’s a…
Is it just me, or did January feel like an entire year all on its own? From drastic political shifts to devastating wildfires, extra-cold temperatures to egg shortages, a surge in influenza activity to…
This month, my beautiful daughter, Claudia, will celebrate her 29th birthday. I was 24 and living with cystic fibrosis (CF) when I became her mother. It’s now been four years since my double-lung…
The end of 2024 is upon us, which means it’s time to reflect on the past year and evaluate ourselves and our decisions. It’s also a time for resolution — the promise to implement…
They say that the older you get, the faster time passes. At 53 years old, I completely agree. As I look back at the columns I’ve written in the past, I can’t believe…
Many of the thoughts that cross my mind daily are specific to cystic fibrosis (CF). Recently, I’ve recognized that they’re not things that most people, including my family and healthy peers, have to…
I had a virtual call recently with my cystic fibrosis (CF) physician, who’s also a lung transplant expert. More recently, he obtained credentials in palliative care as well. Since my double-lung transplant…
Here in Pennsylvania, September is my favorite month. The summer humidity is gone, the sun is still warm, but there’s a slight chill in the air that’s new. If you’re observant, you can notice…
Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with a continuous glucose monitoring device. Not everyone will have the same response. Consult your doctor before using any new medical device. Cystic fibrosis…
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