For years, I carried a collection of unexplained health issues that never quite added up. I didn’t cough, I didn’t wheeze, and nothing about me fit the traditional picture of cystic fibrosis. So when doctors raised the possibility, I dismissed it without hesitation. CF belonged to someone else — not to a woman who had spent her life being told her symptoms were unrelated, insignificant, or imagined.

What I didn't know was that CF doesn't always fit a certain mold.

My name is Kristen Chidsey. And in case you haven't guessed, I am that young woman — just quite a few years older now, with a little bit more knowledge and more than a few gray hairs and wrinkles to prove it.

After decades of trying to figure out the root of my health issues, I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 31 years old.

My journey to that diagnosis has been anything but typical and, like many, was filled with frustration and hopelessness. Other than frequent sinus infections and gastrointestinal (GI) issues, I was rarely sick as a child. Still, I never truly thrived. As a teenager, my low weight and chronic stomachaches became a major stressor for my family. Countless invasive tests revealed little more than low vitamin levels, and doctors became convinced I was starving myself — despite my parents repeatedly insisting that they had evidence that proved otherwise. My parents were fed up and I was fed up. I began to lose trust in the medical system.

After having my own children, everything changed. My weight dropped to a dangerously low level. My energy was nonexistent. My overall health was rapidly declining. I was no longer willing to accept vague answers. I was ready to fight to be around long enough to watch my children grow up.

It was not an easy battle. After two years of more invasive testing, hospital stays, and a few serendipitous events, I was diagnosed with malabsorption and pancreatic insufficiency. That was when doctors began to mention cystic fibrosis. And honestly, the first time it came up, I was confident it would be just another potential diagnosis that was quickly ruled out.

I was wrong.

My genetic testing results were vague and inconclusive, but my sweat test came back borderline positive. And those "healthy lungs" of mine began throwing a few curveballs. I developed chronic upper respiratory infections and began growing Pseudomonas. Combined with pancreatic insufficiency, it all led to a CF diagnosis.

For the first time in decades, I had an answer for all of my strange and unexplained ailments. Treatment for pancreatic insufficiency helped almost immediately. I began to gain weight. My energy slowly returned. And I finally had a team of doctors willing to fight alongside me so I could become, and stay, as healthy and strong as possible.

It should have felt like a moment to celebrate.

Instead, I was consumed by fear.

While I was fighting for answers for myself, both of my children, then just 7 and 3 years old, fell off their growth curves. My daughter developed pneumonia for the third time in her short life. Six months after my diagnosis, both of my children were diagnosed with CFTR-related disorder.

I was no longer asking what my future looked like. I needed to know what their future would hold.

I still don't fully know the answer to that. What I do have is unshakable confidence in the care surrounding us.

Even with unusual presentations and genetics that don't fit neatly into a box, the CF community has met my family with determination, compassion, and expertise. Our care has never been one-size-fits-all. Instead, it has been thoughtful, intentional, and tailored to each of us, even when the path forward wasn't clear.

That level of support is powerful. It's also why uncertainty doesn't feel paralyzing. Behind us stands an extraordinary CF team and a community rich with resources, knowledge, and relentless commitment.

Grateful doesn't begin to cover it. Today, at nearly 21 and 17, my children are thriving, and the comprehensive care they've received at their CF center has made all the difference. From dedicated physicians and nurses to a foundation that fights tirelessly for consistent, comprehensive care and a cure for all, this community is proof that cystic fibrosis is not a battle anyone has to face alone.

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