It's hard not to feel guilt for all those years my partner spent taking care of me as I got more and more sick from cystic fibrosis. This Valentine's Day, I'm not going to dwell on the past. I'm going to focus on how much we love and care for each other right now.
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The unexpected ups and downs of having a son with cystic fibrosis sometimes makes me feel like I'm on a game-show obstacle course, dodging punches and avoiding the mud pit. It helps to do my research, keep lists, rely on my support team, and take some “Mommy time” to get through life's daily challenges.
As a person with cystic fibrosis, I used alcohol and drugs to fit in with my peers and cope with the hardships of having a chronic disease. I still struggle with sobriety, but I have taken control of my health and my life.
This year, I'm planning a big, beautiful queer wedding with my fiancée, Ali. Even though I felt conflicted about bringing Ali into a life with CF, she stayed by my side through some of the hardest challenges I've ever faced.
Having two sons living with cystic fibrosis, I struggled for years with the financial burdens and restrictions of the insurance market. Since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, I no longer have to worry about lifetime caps and astronomical premiums -- two issues that caused enormous grief for my family.
My feisty, athletic nature has gotten me through two double-lung transplants. Although my active lifestyle is different than before, I have embraced brand-new competitive pursuits that have helped me develop the mental fortitude to overcome medical adversity.
When I met my husband, who has cystic fibrosis, he was listed for a double-lung transplant. I thought I was prepared for that. I wasn't.
I was able to take part in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial. Here's what I went through and learned.
I was prepared to experience side effects when I was vaccinated against COVID-19, and -- although they were significant to me -- I knew that it was my immune system strongly responding to the vaccine.
It might seem strange but for someone with cystic fibrosis, something as simple as a mammogram can spark joy. It means that I have lived long enough to have reach this preventive care milestone, and that is something to celebrate.