Site Search

Looking back at my freshman year, I realize that putting college before my CF wasn't the first thing I had all wrong. 

Finding a Balance Between CF and High School

Growing up, I never had any doubts that I would one day go off to college and pursue a career, despite having cystic fibrosis. But when the time came to prepare to attend Marquette University and live on my own in Milwaukee, I knew I would need a plan in order to make my transition to college life as smooth as possible.

As a teacher with cystic fibrosis, I find it no surprise that heading back to school can be a shock to my system. But over the years, I've learned that if I can remember three main things, I can stay healthy through the transition back to school.

During my five months in Denmark for a study abroad program, I not only learned more about myself and others, but I became more confident in my ability to take care of myself. Don't let CF stand in the way of experiencing that, or any other dreams.

Learn how Rachel Kinney manages her CF while away at college.

Learn how one college junior went from struggling with CF at school to managing it with flying colors. 

The only thing that is certain in my life is the uncertainty of my teenage daughter's next hospital stay. Despite this, she has somehow managed to supervise her own academic life from a hospital room. 

Learn how Rachel Kinney fits studying for a computer science major, an active social calendar and daily cystic fibrosis treatments into her life.

Our next “Living Today” video features Jordan Scott, 22, whose biggest challenge involves gaining weight. But through her love of studying nutrition, she's been able to overcome her fear of the inevitable: a feeding tube.