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.
For me, exercise has been a magical treatment for my cystic fibrosis. I have found that our bodies respond to the demands put on them, so train your body to meet a fitness goal, and your strength and endurance will improve.
Growing up with cystic fibrosis was often lonely, but discovering how to make myself and others laugh helped me navigate those years and gave me a purpose in life.
At 34, I had no obvious symptoms or family history of colon cancer. My body was telling me something was wrong and compelled me to push for more tests to reach a diagnosis. Now every day I get up and learn to be comfortable living in the uncomfortable. With more screenings happening earlier, you may never have to.