My voice plays an important role in managing my cystic fibrosis. Breathing techniques that I have learned as a singer help me perform pulmonary function tests and my voice can signal a change in my health — if I listen to it.
Ashley Ballou-Bonnema is a professional vocalist and private voice instructor. She serves as the executive director of Breathe Bravely, an organization passionate about giving voice to CF. Diagnosed at 1-month-old with CF, Ashley is a passionate advocate for the CF community. Ashley was inspired to bring her life as a musician and life as an individual with CF together through a program called, “sINgSPIRE,” an innovative approach to combating CF through the art of singing. Ashley and her husband, Mark, along with their dogs, are lucky to call Sioux Falls, S.D. home.
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As a professional vocalist, for most of my life I tried to hide my CF. But, after opening up about my disease and creating a program to help others through singing, I realized just how powerful my voice really is.