The CF Community Blog is written by the community, for the community. It's about sharing our experiences, reflections, and perspectives — the good days, the bad days, and all the tough and wonderful things in between. With topics ranging from emotional health to treatments, the blog is a platform to share your unique story.
![Zanny flexing her bicep which has a PICC line in it](/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2024-04/Zanny-Steffgen-Featured-Image.png?h=8abcec71&itok=Fr7k5PvA)
Having an atypical presentation of CF means I stand somewhere between the CF world and the rest of the world — and that makes me feel like I belong in neither.
![A professional headshot of Zanny Steffgen](/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public/2024-04/Zanny-Steffgen-Headshot.png?itok=oD3iLvkp)
![Jennifer sitting on her living room floor holding a cotton ball up to her dog](/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2024-01/Jennifer-Kyle-Featured-Image.png?h=8abcec71&itok=moJ2-4LR)
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I learned that service dogs for diabetics can be trained to detect the scent of high or low blood sugar. Could this type of training be effective for teaching my service dog to detect when I have a bacterial infection?
![A headshot of Jennifer Kyle](/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public/2023-06/Jennifer-Kyle-Headshot.png?itok=5grJLv5A)
![A woman putting on a vest from the waist down.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2022-06/CFF.org%20Associated%20and%20In-page%20Image-CFF_NACF_S001_S001_T019.MOV_.11_41_30_06.Still003.png?h=de17517d&itok=KFuD6taU)
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I was diagnosed late with cystic fibrosis. When I found out I had bronchiectasis on top of that, I was crushed. However, nine years later, my health is as good as it can be, and I’ve learned the value of fighting back.
![Marieliz-Landa-Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public/2021-09/Marieliz-Landa-Headshot.jpg?itok=YmolMzyj)
![Marco Rosales](/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2022-05/Marco-Rosales-Featured.png?h=de17517d&itok=jlIGEYaY)
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I never had the luxury of time to reflect on the hardships that I experienced fighting cystic fibrosis because I was too focused on that particular day’s struggle. Still, there are two experiences that have stuck with me even though they were more than 10 years ago.
![Marco Rosales headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public/2022-05/Marco-Rosales-Headshot.png?itok=CK3e-k_a)
![Ella sitting at a desk looking at her laptop.](/sites/default/files/styles/image_card/public/2022-02/Ella-Balasa-Featured.jpg?h=de17517d&itok=dOTDtfXV)
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I am excited that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has surpassed $100 million in research funding through its Infection Research Initiative and that it promises to continue to support infection research at the same rate as the past three years. I am hopeful that the patient community will hear more about funding updates for new infection research as we move forward.
![Gabriella-Balasa-Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/author_thumbnail/public/2021-09/Gabriella-Balasa-Headshot.jpg?itok=gX4OQF4F)