Although I don’t consider having a chronic illness like cystic fibrosis a good thing, I accept it and I think others should, too.
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I grew up thinking I would never be able to have children because of my CF. While advancements in treatments have made motherhood a possibility for many, I ultimately made the painful decision to not have children.
My brother, Josh, who has cystic fibrosis has been through more struggles than anyone I know, but he has always kept a positive attitude -- even while awaiting a lung transplant. This outlook on life inspires me and helps me see the best case in any outcome.
Foundation to fund up to $110 million for collaboration to accelerate the development of genetic therapies for CF
I went from knowing nothing about cystic fibrosis to having the three most important people in my life diagnosed with the disease. I was shocked to learn that not only did my two children have CF, but also my husband had it.
My daughter, Ellie Frances, has faced a host of medical problems. Living with cystic fibrosis helped prepare me for the difficult decisions I've had to make along the way.
At various points in my life, I have faced ableist comments or reactions to my cystic fibrosis treatments, which have greatly affected me. I hope this blog post makes people more aware of the language they use toward people with chronic illnesses.