The problem with Make-A-Wish’s new policy for children with CF
I’m a Make-A-Wish kid. Rather, I was one. I’m now 30, but I had my wish granted 12 years ago because of my cystic fibrosis (CF). For those unaware, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants…
Understanding Nonsense — William Ryan
William Ryan is an adult with cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. William is from Bayonne, New Jersey, a small peninsula city roughly 20 minutes from New York City. Along with being a columnist, he works in local government helping senior citizens, disabled citizens, and veterans. He was diagnosed with CF in early 1993. He has a rare mutation of CF, mostly affecting his digestive system rather than his respiratory system. William and his wife, Gina, have two dogs, Otis and Ruby. He hopes you’ll enjoy reading his columns as much as Otis and Ruby do.
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Working through the trauma of pulmonary function testing
I can still envision it: The top half of the wall was painted a shade of beige, while the bottom half was covered in blue wallpaper with white stripes. That’s how I remember the…
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How climate change and strange weather patterns affect my health
For years, the TV news program “60 Minutes” on CBS featured a frequent segment by broadcaster Andy Rooney. In it, Rooney would pontificate on the day’s important topics. Sometimes he’d come up with a…
How I connected with the salt of the earth — or its water — in Hawaii
I am, in no uncertain terms, not a nature person. I am a city person through and through. I find it comforting to be in a packed subway car rather than in the openness…
How I met my wife: A tale of first dates, cystic fibrosis, and Disney
I was never a fan of being single. Despite living life like it was a song that didn’t make the album “Is This It” by The Strokes, I didn’t like the whole process…
I considered my chronic illness when choosing a career
Before I wanted to be a baseball player, I longed to be a film director. This came from watching movies by Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis when I was growing up.
The NFL team that inspired me to be courageous on my health journey
It’s 2006, and I’m with my uncle and cousin at the ESPN Zone in New York’s Times Square. My uncle and I are watching the New York Giants have yet another meltdown at the…
What those of us with invisible diseases want others to know
That which is visible can more easily be defined than that which is not. Of course, while the contents of a book can be different from its cover, readers can usually gain a sense…
On David Bowie, Elton John, Space, My Grandfather, and Death
Every morning, my grandfather used to run for the train he’d take to work. His job was in the boiler room of the American Museum of Natural History and adjacent…
Confronting My Fear of a Lung Transplant Because of CF
Fear often triggers one’s fight-or flight instincts. Depending on the circumstances, when it happens to me, I’ll either persevere through an unwanted situation or become paralyzed by fear. When I become frozen, I…
What Baseball Has Taught Me About Living With Cystic Fibrosis
To become a National Baseball Hall of Fame member, you only have to be successful roughly 25–30% of the time you’re in the batter’s box. Using the word “only” may seem like I’m slagging…
Why Walter White of ‘Breaking Bad’ Is Relevant to the CF Community
For years, bound by an undying loyalty to New Jersey, I never watched the TV show “Breaking Bad” because nothing would ever top “The Sopranos.” If you’re a TV connoisseur like me, you’ll…
Why Humor Is Important in Life With Cystic Fibrosis
I remember the first time I was funny — the year was 2010 and I was 17. I know what you’re thinking: “Will, how come it took you 17 years to be funny? How…
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