Site Search

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.

When I was in high school, I tried my best to hide my CF from my friends. When this put my health at risk, I knew I had to find friends who would accept me and to become a better advocate for myself.

My younger sister and I both have CF. Growing up, I tried to be a role model for her in managing the day-to-day challenges. Today, she is the one inspiring me.

Having to isolate from our loved ones after the birth of our first child -- right as the COVID-19 outbreak hit our community -- was doubly difficult, but with a little education, our support network came through for us.

As Evan's mom, I have to constantly decide where to invest my time, especially when it comes to providing feedback. So, when offered the chance to turn my survey fatigue into something that would actually make a difference and be less of a hassle to do, I jumped at it.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought great challenges to cystic fibrosis care. As Michelle Prickett showed during plenary 1 of this year's North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, CF care teams adapted to provide care and keep us safe. It also shows where CF care may be headed in the future.