A Giant Win After a Big Loss
After a monstrous letdown, we need a win. Those of us with chronic illness need reminders to keep on keeping on. The glimmer of hope for better days is necessary to move forward. Rarely do we have a…
Valiant Voice — Lara Govendo
Lara, 36, resides in Vermont as a wild, adventurous lady who happens to be a clinical mental health counselor. She dives deep into controversial topics by talking about her own struggles to make others feel less alone, educating about all aspects of health, and encouraging 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, and belly laughing with her loves. She’s passionate about connecting with like-minded people, so join her at www.laragovendo.com and on social media (“Lungs4Lovey”) while she flies by the seat of her (no) pants.
Featured Post
My career goals are finally possible, thanks to my new lungs
I’ve talked a lot about dreaming about the future, but not really about planning for it. Being born with cystic fibrosis (CF) made it challenging to depend on my health, so planning for the future never felt…
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Plan A Didn’t Work — Now What?
I open my eyes, and the walls around me blur like a mirage. I whisper through my post-intubated raw throat: “Did it work?” My nurse replies: “No, they weren’t able to fix the problem.” Preliminary tears well…
I Don’t Always Wear the Badge of Bravery
In my previous life (pre-double-lung transplant) I was the bravest I’ve ever been. Before my transplant, the most important piece of my identity was bravery. I was brave in the face of death countless times. Post-transplant, my courage…
I’m No Longer Resisting a Rest
Earn your rest. Earn self-care. Earn taking care of yourself. The list is endless for the unrealistic standards forced on us by society. The United States is driven by an obsession with productivity levels. Taking days off is portrayed…
How I Regained My Independence During the Pandemic
As restrictions from COVID-19 lift ’round these parts, my urge to get back to business as usual has intensified. I’m lucky to live in a state that’s been less affected, so I dared to ask my favorite doctor…
Let’s Unite to Ditch the Charade of ‘I’m Fine’
Confusion over how we “should” react to suffering wreaks havoc in the mind, often triggering a shame response. We so often utter the words, “I’m fine,” though that performative response is far from the truth. Inside, we cry out…
The Story Behind Awareness
Each time I meet someone new, CF pours from my mouth. It has become impossible to negate that intricate piece of who I am. Cystic fibrosis isn’t my whole life, but it has evolved me into the person…
The Counseling Connection
Despite battling chronic illness, I managed to stumble through six years of college. Obtaining my master’s degree in mental health and school counseling was a herculean feat. But I didn’t power through it on my own: I believe…
The Transformation of Transplantation
In spring 2015 I began journeying toward a challenge I hadn’t known would come to fruition so quickly: lung transplantation. Concerned for my life, my care team had labeled my cystic fibrosis “unmanageable.” Blinded by my inability to…
Hanging by a Hope During the Coronavirus Crisis
The invisible killer is nothing new. Something that can’t be contained? I feel that. Not knowing if or when it will hit you? Every. Single. Day. Cystic fibrosis is a monster. And so is having a transplant. There’s always…
Welcome to ‘Valiant Voice,’ a New Column About Life with CF
As a new columnist for Cystic Fibrosis News Today, I am honored to join a team of radically talented writers! My name is Lara, and most people call me “LAR-ah.” Many mistakenly call me Laura. The first syllable…
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Your CF Community
Visit the Cystic Fibrosis News Today forums to connect with others in the CF community.
