Nicole graduated summa cum laude from Kean University’s School of Communication, Media and Journalism; she became certified in the theory and practice of child life the same year. Nicole is a satirical writer in the cystic fibrosis community. Diagnosed with CF at age 5, Nicole spent most of her life hiding her disease. When she got a double-lung transplant in June 2019, she embarked on a journey of transparency, and now hopes her column, “Lung, Scrappy, and Hungry,” will inspire others to be transparent.
“One Last Time” from the musical “Hamilton” is sung by the actor who portrays George Washington and sets Washington’s farewell address to music. It’s the perfect song for this breaking news: This is my final column. With…
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Are you living or surviving? Most cystic fibrosis patients have dabbled with this question. To what extent does your health guide your life, rather than love or ambition? I knew the answer back in 2018, but after my…
I was evaluated for my bilateral lung transplant in March 2019. I was transplanted on June 14, 2019, and graduated from physical therapy two months after that. Although transplant facts are more accessible today than in the past,…
In honor of the mixed reviews of the screen debut of the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen,” I wanted to write about something every chronically ill teenager has taken part in: disappearing. High school In high school, I…
Transitioning home from a lengthy hospitalization was always bittersweet. While I longed for the comforts of home, being an inpatient for weeks on end turned into a strange “Beauty and the Beast” situation. I was a volunteer hostage, and…
If you plan on dressing like a doctor or a nurse this Halloween, you already know what to wear: a long white coat, scrubs, or an old-school nurse cap. Costuming a patient for a television show is easy, too.
I assume the bathroom is a sterile, uncomfortable place for most people. It’s a room where you touch up your makeup, relieve yourself, or take a shower at the end of a long day. But for me, a chronically…
“Fall Risk” is a new musical comedy about cystic fibrosis (CF) and transplant written by yours truly. CF education and awareness are very important to me. One of my favorite takeaways from the show has been how…
Clinic anxiety is real, especially if you’re frequented by bad news. When I was little, I never wanted to go to the doctor. “Clinic” meant hearing speeches that felt disciplinary in nature, adding medications to my regimen, or…
Hair has always been a huge part of my identity. Sometimes, it was my way of communicating. Other times, it revealed my declining health. Despite the risks of it being cut too short or dyed the wrong color,…
If I were a superhero, my Achilles’ heel would be water. Before I illustrate, I must explain how anti-rejection medications work. A healthy immune system is trained to attack foreign bodies such as viruses because they’re often…
Most cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are admitted to the hospital for “tuneups,” which are hospital stays meant for IV antibiotics and additional treatments. CF patients are known for having frequent respiratory infections, and tuneups are done either proactively…
A funny female pediatrician named Dr. C diagnosed me at age 5. After years of Mom begging doctors to pay closer attention to my symptoms, she stumbled upon Dr. C’s existence when my regular pediatrician wasn’t available.
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