I have enjoyed pretty good health, so I have tried to keep my cystic fibrosis on the back burner while I pursue my passions. Sometimes, though, CF intrudes, reminding me that it’s still here.
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My son, Keith, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after an initial focus on CF as the cause of his health issues. With people with CF living longer, we need more awareness of pancreatic cancer in CF individuals due to the potential increased risk.
The antibiotics used to treat nontuberculous mycobacteria made me choose between the risk of hearing loss versus the reward of better lung health.
All my life, I thought I was clumsy. It turns out that I had a neurological condition, bilateral vestibular loss, that was in all likelihood caused by antibiotic use.
I began fundraising and raising CF awareness soon after my son, Aidan, was diagnosed as a baby. After years of successful fundraiser walks, Aidan asked me to stop — opening my eyes to the difference between being a mom of someone with CF and being the person who is living with CF.
Having a friend with cystic fibrosis has made me determined to do all that I can to help her fight for a cure. That includes leading the charge for making legacy donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
My son, Arjun, has had the deck stacked against him in some ways. He was born early, with cystic fibrosis, and needed surgery. His resilience, and my hopes for his future, keep me inspired.
As I reflect on the 30th anniversary of Great Strides and my 35-year journey living with cystic fibrosis, I celebrate all the CF community has accomplished together and am thankful to be able to share my story as a 2018 National Ambassador.
With another fantastic Volunteer Leadership Conference (VLC) in the books, I want to share some of the things we learned and how we can keep the momentum going through National Volunteer Week, and all year long.