We asked, you answered.
With Mother's Day just around the corner, we wanted to do something special for mothers in the cystic fibrosis community. A little over a week ago, we asked you to share with us on social media the women you are inspired by -- specifically, mothers with CF or women who have a child with CF -- whose story has encouraged or moved you.
Read on about some of the women you highlighted: the women who take our breath away.
Emily Ingram: My mom, Amy I., is the most selfless, gracious, and hardworking mom I know. I was diagnosed with CF at birth, but Mom always pushed me and my two siblings without CF to succeed. She took care of all my health needs without making me feel limited in any way. Even when my health got rocky, I was still able to stay in school and graduate high school and college at the top of my class because my mom was always there to help me whenever I needed it. Now that I'm in graduate school, she has never hesitated to leave her life behind to come be with me for as long as I need. No one knows or understands everything she does for me, and she deserves to be recognized.
Cheryl Fischer: My sister, Suzanne M., has CF and is an amazing mother to her daughter, Addison. Suzanne balances hours of vest and nebulizer treatments every day with an active toddler, without ever skipping a beat.
Joyce Myers: Our daughter-in-law, Brittney, amazes and inspires me every day with her constant care and devotion to our two little grandchildren -- both of whom were diagnosed with CF before birth. Both have gastrostomy (G) tubes, require ongoing therapies and treatments, have had numerous hospital stays, and have regular appointments and checkups -- many which are one or two hours away. She has become a mommy, nurse, therapist, secretary, and devoted advocate for her two young kids. She defines the term “Super Mom,” and I am blessed beyond measure to have her as the mother of our grandchildren.
Michelle Wright: From day one, Karen M., the mother of a 19-year-old with CF, has lived and literally breathed her engagement with this illness. She has fundraised, researched, spent countless nights at the hospital, touted for drugs, traveled to speak to other CF parents and children, participated in events, and spoken publicly about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Karen is such an inspiration to not only her son, Tom, but to every person with CF.
Kelly Scarrott: My sister, Kirsten M., has three beautiful children -- the youngest of whom has CF. She knew nothing about the disease when the doctor called to tell her that her newborn son had CF, and was completely devastated. But since then, she has learned everything she can about CF and has already raised thousands of dollars for the CF Foundation leading up to Great Strides. She's also decided to hold a silent auction to benefit the Foundation in his name. She has always been intelligent, determined, and stronger than anyone I've ever met, but to see her use all of her amazing talents so selflessly leaves me in awe of her every single day.
Emily DeLafayette: My mom, who has CF, married my father and started raising his two sons. Then, she had me. Since the day I was born, she has made me know that I'm loved and pushed me in every aspect of my life. She went to my games, attended my plays, taught in my Sunday school class, and has done everything in her power to give me the best life possible. She started saving for my college years before I decided where to go, and kept me moving toward the goal of college graduation. She hasn't let CF stop her, and has loved my brothers and me unconditionally. She is a fighter and the most amazing woman I have ever had the pleasure to know and love.
Jillian Goodwin: My mom, Kim H., gave birth to me while serving as a flight surgeon for the U.S. Air Force, and knew within a few weeks that something wasn't right with my health. At the time, she was stationed overseas in Japan and had to fly halfway around the world to San Diego, Calif., before a doctor was finally able to diagnose me with CF at 3 months old. For the next six years, she traveled from Japan to Hawaii every three months to take me to doctor's appointments so that I would have the best quality health care possible for my CF. After moving back to the states when I was 6, she continued to make every sacrifice necessary, and eventually chose to give up her career as a physician to stay at home to homeschool me and take care of me and my five siblings.
She made sure that I had what I needed for my CF without giving me special treatment, and always encouraged me to be independent and proactive about my care. She has done everything from driving me to the ER when I was having a severe drug reaction and cardiac arrest, to cleaning my nebulizer cups when I didn't have the energy, to proofreading my college papers and acting as a caretaker when I was too sick to go to class. She helps with anything and everything that I ask, no matter what. Today, I am 25 years old and I wouldn't be half the woman I am without her and her unconditional love.
