As a child, I mourned the loss of my sister and brother to cystic fibrosis, so much so that I avoided any and all things that had to do with CF. Last year, a person with CF helped me confront that fear, leading to an unexpected, but cathartic, outpouring of grief.
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To my body: we've been through so much and cystic fibrosis has beaten us down, but I want to thank you for never giving up on me.
Being born prematurely and facing a lifelong disease could have made me bitter and angry for my whole life. While there are some bad days mixed in, I have, instead, made it my goal to always be kind and considerate to the people in my life.
After careful thought, I decided to add medically prescribed cannabis to my care regimen. After using it for six months, I've noticed an improvement in both my mental and physical health.
What I thought would be a fun trip to the nail salon with my mom let me know I had a bigger problem with anxiety than I thought.
After my son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, I was stunned by some of the insensitive questions and comments I received from friends and family. Over time, I learned that their unsolicited feedback provided teachable moments that I hope to pass along to other families.
I've found it hard to cope with CF as I have gotten sicker, and loneliness comes about in both physical and emotional ways. Even though the people in my life may not know exactly what I'm going through, I'm trying to let them in on what I'm feeling.
Cystic fibrosis is unpredictable and I've found that some of the complications aren't as progressive as the disease.
Using social media helps me cope with raising a child with cystic fibrosis, but I have to remember that it's not just my story I'm sharing. Here's how I make sure I share the right parts of my son's CF journey.
Running amidst the beauty of the Kansas countryside helps improve my lung function and mood and has even kindled a passion inside me for the environment.