Although I had been told that my coughing would stop, I wish I had known more about the transformative change that Trikafta® would have on my life. It has almost made me wistful for the time when I was sick, back when I was more in tune with what my body was experiencing.
Site Search
Now that I am feeling healthy on Trikafta®, I no longer feel special for thriving despite the challenges of cystic fibrosis. I don’t feel like I belong in the CF community anymore, and I miss that sense of camaraderie that comes from a shared struggle.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Kalydeco® (ivacaftor) for infants as young as 1 month who have at least one copy of 97 mutations that have proven to be responsive to Kalydeco.
My wife and I were heartbroken when our daughter, Ruth, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a newborn. But CF can’t stop us from being optimistic about what the future holds for our family.
Advances in cystic fibrosis care have been life-changing for me, and I’m grateful to breathe easier with a CFTR modulator. However, I began to experience new issues in the past few years, and I am left wondering if it’s a side effect of the CFTR modulator or something else.
Cystic fibrosis defined my identity for many years until I participated in clinical trials for Trikafta®. As my health improved, I struggled to figure out what this meant for my sense of self. This experience motivated me to help other young adults with CF navigate the many changes that modulators can bring.
I have learned a lot about myself in the three years since I started Trikafta®. Even though I am healthier, I feel less connected to the cystic fibrosis community and my care team.
After starting Trikafta, I decided to try running again, and I grew to love it. Because of COVID, I had to conduct my own races in 2020, but now I have joined a running group and am preparing to run my first marathon at the end of September.
After decades of identifying myself as Monique, “the girl with cystic fibrosis,” I didn’t know who I was anymore after Trikafta changed my health for the better.
Orkambi® is now approved for use in children with cystic fibrosis ages 1-2 years who have two F508del mutations. This is the only modulator available to very young children with these mutations.