Romance and disability: My love story
For a long time, the relationship between romantic love and disability was complicated for me. It’s taken time to heal from my traumatic experiences with dating. I honestly didn’t know what romantic love was…
Valiant Voice — Lara Govendo
Lara Govendo resides in Vermont as a wild, adventurous lady who also happens to be a licensed clinical professional counselor. She dives deep into controversial topics by talking about her own struggles to help others feel less alone, educate about all aspects of health, and encourage others that there’s always hope. Thanks to her double-lung transplant in 2017 due to cystic fibrosis, you can now find Lara ministering about Jesus, exploring the glorious outdoors with her husband, and belly laughing with people around the planet. She can be reached on her website at www.hungry4hopeconsulting.com.
Featured Post
My time in nature has given me a broader perspective on CF
The benefits of being in nature are well-documented. There are the physical benefits, such as improving blood pressure and immune activity. And then there are the mental benefits, with people spending…
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CF treatments are miraculous, but what about rare mutations?
For many years, I’ve had to endure the ongoing praise for life-changing cystic fibrosis (CF) medications. Let me explain. CFTR modulators like the most recently approved drug Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor) have…
I didn’t choose to have a double-lung transplant; I chose to live
I would have died without a double-lung transplant. Those words still send chills down my spine. It’s surreal that my story could have turned out differently. I try not to dwell on it,…
For the record, I’m a person with a disability, not an unable person
As a person with a disability, I’ve been perceived as different and treated that way. This treatment has taken various forms during the seasons of my life, depending on when my disability was visible.
Medical trauma bubbles to the surface again after a hospitalization
A recent hospitalization for appendicitis reminded me too much of frequent hospital stays in the past. As memories infiltrated my thoughts, the traumatic ties to the past bubbled to the surface. It’s…
A burst appendix reminds me that I need to tune into my symptoms
I live with some level of pain and nausea on the regular. I’ve become numb to these symptoms because I’m used to them, but that’s sometimes a problem. A few weeks ago,…
This month, we honor those who provide palliative and hospice care
Prior to my double-lung transplant in 2017, I was scared of the words “palliative care.” I mistook it for hospice care and thought it meant preparing to die. I was hypersensitive…
How a health crisis caused me to rethink my sense of identity
I had an identity crisis when I turned 30. At the time, everything that had previously defined me — my health, my job, my financial independence — had been stripped from me. It felt…
Sometimes I need to give myself permission to be human
Since I had a double-lung transplant six years ago, my life has been a sea breeze compared with my life with lungs affected by cystic fibrosis (CF). Since everything seems easier now,…
How I cultivated joy and peace amid health challenges
“I don’t understand how you were laughing when all I wanted to do was cry,” my sister said, referring to the time before my double-lung transplant six years ago. In March 2017, I…
My tips for staying safe and healthy while traveling with chronic illness
Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and transplanted organs has taught me a great deal about how to successfully travel by air with a chronic illness. While my medical needs look significantly…
My do’s and don’ts for supporting sick friends and family members
Throughout my journey with cystic fibrosis (CF) and double-lung transplant, I’ve learned what does and doesn’t work for me when it comes to receiving support from others. Following are a few guidelines…
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