When I was in college, I wanted to do it all and my health wasn’t as much of a priority anymore. I learned to accept that things will not always go according to plan and to integrate routine in my life to ensure my health comes first.
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Learning that my daughter has cystic fibrosis has been a struggle for me and my family, especially as I deal with postpartum depression.
When I went off to college it was up to me to manage my cystic fibrosis for the first time without help from my family. I felt fine after skipping my medications and decided to stop using my noisy vest because it embarrassed me, and I wanted to make friends at my new school. As a result, I stayed in the hospital for a few weeks and left with a new perspective on life.
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.
Managing cystic fibrosis can feel overwhelming at times — but we’re here to help. Learn how to navigate life with CF.
Fitting school, work, and CF treatments into my daily routine is tough, and when I push myself too far, my performance and health suffer. I’m determined, however, to keep going and find a balance that is right for me.
From a young age, I was determined that cystic fibrosis would never stop me from pursuing my dreams in the medical field. It wasn’t until I hit a road bump in pharmacy school that I realized my CF could actually give me a unique advantage.
Spending so much of my childhood in and out of the hospital and doing CF treatments was already enough to deal with, so it felt easier to keep my mental health challenges hidden. However, speaking up about my feelings helped me learn that caring for my mental health is as important as taking care of my physical health.
As cystic fibrosis damaged my lungs, I did all I could to make it to my university graduation before I underwent lung transplant.