For as long as I can remember, I have stood by the quote: “Live life to the fullest because you never know when it could be your last day.” This simple quote takes on a deeper meaning for anyone diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

We’re told early on to not expect a long life expectancy and that the most important way to keep ourselves safe is to stick to a carefully curated regimen. But scientists and doctors often forget to mention the importance of creating a strong support system. Although my daily medication routine has physically kept me alive, it has been the dedication and kindness of my loved ones that has kept me fighting.

Although I may be diagnosed with a terminal illness, I — like most other people — have seen the complexities of relationships and connections. I’ve been lucky enough to experience heartache, love, and everything in between. But nothing compares to the mental struggle of having a health setback, and I’ve had plenty of those.

To be fully honest, any time I hear bad news about my health, I begin to spiral into a very dark place. My head quickly begins to think about how fragile life is and how quickly it may be taken away from me. Thinking all these thoughts doesn’t get me anywhere, and sometimes it causes me to distance myself from my family and friends. I have times where I push people away in fear that my negativity and sadness will cause them to look at me differently.

For example, as a CFer, it is very easy to feel a sense of guilt when getting an infection. Guilt that you didn’t take enough safety precautions, guilt that you’re about to ruin so many people’s days with your bad news, and sadly, the guilt of possibly dying.

Recently, I attended my monthly check-up with my pulmonologist, and I was disappointed to hear that my lung function had severely declined. It is the worst it’s been in over four years. Even before I entered the doctor's office, I had a strong feeling that I wouldn’t be leaving with good news, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. The moment I got in my car, I broke down crying and was petrified to break the news to my loved ones. But quickly, something in my mind shifted. I decided to take this complication as an opportunity to strengthen my connections and relationships with people. I reached out to friends that I had not spoken to or seen in a long time. I also made even more of an effort with the people I was already close with.

Rather than running away, I decided to make the best of my situation and bring in as much positivity as possible.

I have always cherished the connections I’ve been lucky enough to make, and I can confidently say that my cystic fibrosis pushes me to create deeper and more meaningful relationships with everyone I meet. Even as a young child, I understood the importance of surrounding myself with people who want the best for me. As I grew up, my extroverted, social self only continued to blossom as I expanded my circle. And as I got older, I quickly realized that because of my CF, friends and family mean a little more to me than they do to others. These people are the ones who push me to keep up with my medication and make necessary adjustments when needed. These people are the ones who encourage me to seek mental health help when life becomes a little too much to handle. And most importantly, these people are the ones who have shaped who I am and who I will become.

Every single person I meet has become a part of my story. Whether it’s a 10-minute conversation or a friendship I’ve had since second grade, I take pride in knowing that they have all made an impact on me. Thankfully, due to the hard work of the CF Foundation and all of the research being done, I know that I have more and more time to create meaningful bonds with people — even those I have yet to meet.

Cystic fibrosis makes it easy to have an excuse to push people away and isolate oneself. But I’ve grown to learn that sometimes it’s not about the circumstance you’re in, but about how you respond to it. So while I do everything in my power to live life to the fullest, I always remember, just like a pair of lungs, relationships need to be cared for, appreciated, and loved.

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