We've all had moments in our lives when things are going really well and it's easy to see the positivity in everything around us. But, the real challenge comes when adversity strikes. Adversity comes in many different forms and is different for everyone. That's why it's also up to each person to determine his or her response to a less than desirable situation.

In my own life, I truly believe that choosing positivity and reinvention -- when I am challenged and feel like my back might be up against the wall -- has not only made me stronger and healthier, but happier in my life.

When I was younger, I vividly recall being admitted to the hospital (in what I call the “dark ages” of cystic fibrosis). I found hospital stays to be horribly daunting, as the prognosis of the disease was bleak and I was missing out on time with my friends, family, and yes, even school. Simply put, I felt like I was missing out on the life I wanted to live. That's when I knew that I had a choice to make -- I could succumb to pity or grab life by the horns and LIVE.

I decided at a very young age to take an active role in my own health and do whatever I had to in order to avoid the four walls of a hospital room. This decision, coupled with growing up in a big family with supportive parents, helped me develop a lifelong foundation of a positive, consistent mindset that's led to an extraordinarily strong connection between spirit, body, and mind. I didn't realize it when I was young boy, but it was probably then that the idea of Superhero Big Air Jerry started to take shape.

When you have CF, the daily treatment routine can become frustrating and make you feel ostracized from other kids. At the same time, however, being consistent with your treatments is key if you want to not only live, but thrive. Just as an athlete cannot train once a week and expect to be a champion or a student expect to skip class and succeed in school, you cannot stay healthy without being compliant on a daily basis.

I created the character of Superhero Big Air Jerry to help parents empower their kids with CF through a relatable superhero. These kids develop confidence when they meet Big Air Jerry, as they see how cool his superpowers are (which include tornado force inhalations/exhalations, a pill case in his belt that wards off bad stuff, teaching kids compliance and deep breathing, taking daily medications to maintain his superhero status, keeping his lungs clear with his special nebulizer hose, and more).

At the same time, Superhero Big Air Jerry is not perfect and, in this way, is much like myself. I know that life will always present me with challenges, whether mental or physical, and I will be knocked down from time to time. In fact, all people will experience this.

So, we must remind ourselves every day to believe and FORGE AHEAD!