Although packing up and moving to college is not easy for anyone, it becomes more complicated for a person living with cystic fibrosis. Not only do we have to adjust to the unfamiliar ways of college life and be entirely in charge of our health, but the group of people we trust with our life changes as well.
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When I first got an enteral feeding tube as a teenager, I had no idea how many doors it would open for both my health and my involvement with the cystic fibrosis community. Fifteen years later, here's how I'm doing today.
As a frequent public speaker, I was surprisingly nervous the day before I spoke to my kids' classmates about the realities of cystic fibrosis several years ago. Luckily, my kids knew just what to say to calm my nerves.
About a year and a half ago, I started preparing for three students with cystic fibrosis at the school where I work as a school nurse. Here's an update on how things have been going.
Sending your child to kindergarten for the first time is hard enough, but when your child has cystic fibrosis, it is even harder. Here's how I handled my daughter's transition to kindergarten and the lessons I learned along the way.
From scheduling appointments to dealing with insurance, taking charge of your own care is a part of becoming an adult with cystic fibrosis. However, when the time came for me to take over these responsibilities, I realized more could be done to make the transition smoother.
As children with cystic fibrosis transition toward greater independence at school and at home, they will also take greater responsibility in managing their disease.
You can best manage your health when you know what to expect, what resources you can use, and a community of people with whom you can share your experiences.
As someone who is in the hospital three to four times a year, I've found that there are a few things I need to create a comfortable environment. I love to look online and see what other people with CF bring to the hospital, so hopefully, my list will give you a few ideas for your next stay.
When I started coughing up blood, letting my care team know helped me handle it the next time.