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.
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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.
Even though it was scary, I made attending medical appointments during the pandemic a priority.
Since the loss of my sister to cystic fibrosis, grief has hit me in waves. Sometimes it feels as though I can't breathe. Despite this, I have been able to function and keep going. That is what Claire would have wanted me to do.
It's been a whirlwind year since my son was born and diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Despite the surgeries, hospital stays, and challenges of living with the disease every day, I'm thankful for the people who helped pave the way.
Having experienced loss before, I thought I knew how to process grief. But, when I lost my cousin to suicide and my grandmother to the pandemic this past year, I reacted in unexpected ways and learned new lessons about coping with grief.