When I began my journey to earn my Doctor of Pharmacy degree, I knew the road ahead would be challenging. In fact, it was so challenging that I often sat there worrying and anxiously crying about whether I would ever make it — but not in the way most people would imagine. 

For me, each day starts with a battle many don’t see. Breathing treatments, swallowing about 10 pills, and ensuring all my inhalers are done because if not, I’ll struggle to breathe throughout the day. Living with cystic fibrosis means every breath, every step, and every moment is fought for. It’s a relentless, invisible struggle that I have embraced as part of who I am.

But my fight didn’t begin in pharmacy school — it started long before.

Several years ago, while in the United Arab Emirates, the country I grew up in, I gradually became very ill as I got older. A doctor looked me in the eye and told me I was going to die. Those words should have been followed by a treatment plan, by hope — but instead, I was discharged from the hospital because I couldn’t afford care. At that moment, I wasn’t just a patient. I was abandoned by a system that saw me as a cost instead of a life worth saving.

I refused to accept that as my ending. With no choice but to leave behind everything familiar, I moved to the U.S. and started from scratch. Alone, far from my family, I had to rebuild not just my health, but my entire life. New country. New challenges. No safety net.

Still, I pushed forward.

Pharmacy school is demanding for anyone. Balancing rigorous coursework, clinical rotations, and the expectation to master a complex field isn’t easy. But for me, it came with added layers — frequent hospital admissions, being hooked up to IV machines, and often studying or taking exams from a hospital bed. I endured surgeries and monthlong hospital stays, sometimes wondering if my body would let me finish what I started. But I never let CF define my limits.

Despite these challenges, I made it — and I didn’t just make it; I thrived. One of my proudest accomplishments is that, semester by semester, I improved academically. Through hard work and determination, I made it to the dean’s list in my final semester, a goal I had worked toward since day one.

But I didn’t achieve this alone. My family’s love and prayers carried me, even though they were miles away. In the absence of my support system, I built a new one — mentors who guided me, friends who became family, physicians and care teams who became my biggest cheerleaders, and even strangers whose kindness reminded me that I was never truly alone.

Not only did I take on the academic challenges of pharmacy school, but I also dedicated myself to serving others. I worked in free clinics for underserved communities to ensure that people who might otherwise go without care received the help they needed. I took on leadership roles as vice president and president of various student organizations. Through these experiences, I grew — both as a future pharmacist and as a person.

Every hardship I faced as a patient became a lesson I carried into my profession. I know what it feels like to be vulnerable, rely on others for care, and feel like your voice is unheard. That’s why being there for my patients — offering medical expertise and human compassion — became the greatest fulfillment of my journey. 

For many, cystic fibrosis is often called the “65 roses disease.” When I was younger, I didn’t understand why people called it that. But as I grew older, I realized the name carried its own kind of beauty. For me, “65 roses” symbolizes people's love and understanding for those living with CF — a gentle reminder that there is resilience and hope even amidst the struggle. It’s a metaphor that captures life's fragility and the strength it takes to live it fully. 

That same strength carried me to where I am today. 

The support from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy played a vital role in my success. The faculty didn’t just see me as a student; they saw me as a person with unique challenges and worked with me to ensure I could thrive. Honorable mentions go to Dr. Stoner and Dr. Ruehter, along with many others, who stood by me, believed in me, and inspired me to achieve more than I thought possible — even when I doubted myself more than I’d like to admit. 

Now, at almost 27 years old and just three months away from walking the stage at graduation to earn my Doctor of Pharmacy degree, I can’t help but reflect on how far I’ve come. From the hospital bed where I was told I wouldn’t make it, to the white coat I will soon wear as a pharmacist, every breath and every step have been fought for. 

I am proud of myself for never giving up. For showing up, even when it was hard. For proving to myself that the very thing I once thought held me back — my health — is the same thing that made me who I am today.

I’ve always felt embarrassed and ashamed to share my story, which is why I kept my cystic fibrosis hidden for so long. I feared that revealing it would lead to prejudice or judgment, and I worried that people might doubt my abilities or think I wasn’t capable of achieving my dreams. 

I carried this weight for years alone, but now, I’m deeply thankful to finally find the courage to speak openly about my journey. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve learned that vulnerability is not a sign of weakness — it’s a testament to the strength it takes to face adversity. 

I want to say to anyone out there who is struggling, who feels weighed down by their own battles — whether it’s health-related or something else entirely: Your struggles do not define your limits. In fact, they can become the very foundation of your strength. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to face insurmountable obstacles, but those challenges shape us into who we are meant to be. Believe in yourself, and trust in the process. Life may not always be fair, and things may not go as planned but know that you are stronger than you think and are never truly alone. Keep pushing forward — even when the wind is against you, you can still soar. 

I’m incredibly thankful for the advancements in CF treatments that have turned my life around. These new medications have improved my health significantly, and I’m beyond excited to share that I haven’t been in the hospital for almost three years — something I once thought impossible. 

The research and medical breakthroughs in the CF world have drastically increased life expectancy. We’re now at a point where CF is no longer just a pediatric disease. People with CF can look forward to milestones like starting a family, growing old, and achieving their lifelong dreams. I am grateful to be part of a health care profession that advances patient care and drives research intending to find a cure for CF. I’m committed to this cause and will continue to work toward a future where CF stands for “Cure Found.” 

I am honored to join the healthcare community as someone who understands the science of medicine and the human side of healing. Living with CF has given me a unique perspective and I look forward to using it to advocate for and empower my patients. 

If I’ve learned anything through this journey, it’s that even when the wind is against you, you can still soar. And remember, the one thing to be stubborn about is never giving up on your dreams. Get up and make them a reality!

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