On New Year's Eve leading into 2015, I didn't want them to place my wife on a ventilator, but that was the best possible decision. Six months later when she received her double-lung transplant, I wanted to bring her home and not continue to spend every day inside a hospital room, but I listened to the experts. Six months after that, I wanted an end to her silent aspirations and instances of pneumonia but certainly didn't want complications from surgery and the resulting internal bleeding. I learned that I had to listen to the experts, accept reality, and weigh the risks before determining my response. It is a lesson that so many in the community have learned and practiced time and again. This attitude stays with us through everyday life, applying to how we react to -- and engage with -- the world. It is especially applicable now with the threat of coronavirus becoming an increasing concern.

However, few are better than the CF community at responding quickly and thoughtfully to something like this because this is what we do.

At one point or another when dealing with CF, there is a new symptom that leads to a new diagnosis or treatment. At first, we worry. What does this mean in the long term? How we can minimize the impact? Will we be able to live with the recommended course of action? We listen to the facts and carefully consider our options because adapting is simply the best option, and we've become experts at it. This is how we remain strong for ourselves and strong for those we love.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Volunteer Leadership Conference (VLC) is one of the most anticipated and beloved events of the year. We catch up with old friends and meet new friends that have joined the fight, all while learning about the latest advancements that we have collectively made possible. As you walk through the conference, you can see groups of people gathering, hear so many new ideas, and feel the excitement motivate you for the next year. Without exception, it has always left me with more energy than what I arrived with (and waaay more stories).

However, this year, in the lead up to the event, we watched the spread of the coronavirus and worried about its impact on our community. We considered what this means in the long term, the steps needed to minimize the impact, and how we can live with the actions we know we must take. There is no denying the fact that I was incredibly disappointed to hear that the conference would not occur in person, but I was also overwhelmed by many of the responses.

A disappointed majority seemed to come to the same conclusion: This is the smartest course of action.

We can keep so many in our community safe in a time of uncertainty -- by staying safe ourselves. This sentiment was reflected in so many of the comments I read because -- in the right environment -- experience breeds wisdom. We feel strongly, but act logically, because this is what we do in the CF community.

So, this year, we will have our VLC online. We will still reflect on what we've accomplished. We will learn about all the exciting scientific developments and the Foundation's strategy to make continued progress. We can still reach out to connect with old friends and make some new ones through the online chat if we try. Above all, NOBODY will be at risk for catching something and bringing it back to their loved ones. We don't do this for ourselves; we do this for the entire CF community.

We learned the facts and we adapted: this is what we do.