The third plenary at this year’s North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference focused on the changing needs of the CF population that are compelling an evolution in CF care. As a person with CF, this evolution in care directly affects me as I face the challenges of living longer with this disease.
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After my daughter’s cystic fibrosis diagnosis, I knew I still wanted more than one child. But, the journey trying to conceive my second child was stressful and emotional.
One of the reasons I decided to attend boarding school was to take charge of my cystic fibrosis care. Although I’m not perfect at taking care of myself, I learned that the importance of staying on top of treatments when my parents gave me the chance to fail.
The excitement we experienced anticipating our daughter, Tegan, starting Trikafta® gave way to sadness and confusion as she experienced emotional side effects.
Just like there isn’t always a right (or one) answer to parenting, parenting two kids with CF has shown me that I need to just do the best I can for my family as we navigate my family’s constantly changing needs.
On the brink of being listed for lung transplant, I started Trikafta®, which has helped stabilize my health and helped me avoid it for now, but a transplant could be in my future.
I had never heard of cystic fibrosis until I received my diagnosis — but learning how to navigate my CF prepared me to advocate for my husband’s medical care and helped me grow as an artist.
A chance meeting at a CF conference 12 years ago gave me one of the most valuable gifts: my CF Mama friend group. Since then, we’ve invested time in our friendship and supported each other through the laughs and the tears.
Throughout my life with cystic fibrosis, I never thought about the prospect that I would outlive my loved ones. Now that I have attended some of their funerals, the thought of my own mortality has caught up with me.
Hospice care helped my daughter, Desirée, through her final days.