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.
In my life with cystic fibrosis (CF), the antibiotic tobramycin has saved my life countless times. But 15 years ago, it took something from me that I’ll never get back. Toxicity from…
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Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and a double-lung transplant often feels like inhabiting two worlds simultaneously. There’s the extraordinary world, filled with medical miracles, precisely managed medications, and a body that has defied…
At 54 years old, and five years after my double-lung transplant, I feel September’s arrival differently than most do. I don’t just notice Pennsylvania’s crisp air or the dry leaves crunching underfoot. The month…
This Labor Day weekend marks five years since I received the gift of a double-lung transplant. Actually, it happened on Sept. 5, 2020, but that was the Saturday before Labor Day that year,…
I’ll never forget my daughter’s college graduation — not because I was there cheering in the audience, but because I wasn’t. Instead of watching her walk across the stage in person, I was watching…
When people think of cystic fibrosis (CF), colon cancer usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But for those of us living beyond what used to be the limits of…
Because I’m living with cystic fibrosis (CF), nutrition is more than just a personal choice; it’s a vital part of managing my health. With CF, malabsorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins…
Today I turned 54. My birthday doesn’t come with a party theme or a cultural rite of passage. However, for someone with cystic fibrosis (CF) like me, it’s a quiet revolution. When I…
I’ve always carried a heavy purse. Stay with me here. Years ago, when I was waiting for a double-lung transplant, my mom would often accompany me to my doctor appointments. She’d graciously offer…
When I was 17, my appendix ruptured, requiring surgery. Because I had cystic fibrosis (CF), I was admitted to the pediatric CF unit. It was the late 1980s, and most CF patients were…
I pushed my mind and body to keep up with those of my peers in my younger years. In high school, despite having cystic fibrosis (CF), I kept up with them socially while…
We’ve been having such a slow-developing spring here in Pennsylvania. The temperatures have been lower than normal, and it feels like it’s been raining for months. I must continually remind myself not to complain…
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