As an adult with cystic fibrosis, I am used to being the patient and having someone take care of me. However, the roles were reversed when my then-fiancé needed surgery. Striking a balance between taking care of him and myself was difficult but necessary.
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Taking a step back and taking a break from social media helped me to realize that it's okay to have a definition of health and wellness that looks completely different from anyone else.
Cystic fibrosis has been a challenge to me, but I've been able to blossom nevertheless.
Finding out that I couldn't swim because of the risk of further infections crushed me. It was hard to find a replacement activity that was fulfilling -- until I discovered the thrill of dirt bike racing.
The reward for trying to look your best -- even when you are sick -- shouldn't be people questioning whether you really have a serious illness. People with cystic fibrosis and other chronic illnesses need support and kindness, not second guessing.
Having cystic fibrosis means that hospitalizations are nothing new to me. But as I get older, I am much more aware of all the events I'm missing out on — birthdays, concerts, and school field trips. So this fall, I decided to take my life back from cystic fibrosis.
I hadn't realized the extent to which having cystic fibrosis helped shape me as a social worker, until I opened up to my coworkers about my disease. Through those conversations, I have come to understand that isolation causes many people with CF to struggle and that connection to others and a support system are key to coping with this disease.
My son who has cystic fibrosis required extensive treatment as a toddler, which I believe had a traumatic effect on his mental health. With the help of therapy, I have helped him learn how to self-advocate and use coping strategies for his anxiety, starting when he was just 4 years old.
The challenges of living with cystic fibrosis can sometimes be overwhelming. When I hit rock bottom, I found that my faith in God restored me and has helped sustain me through difficult times.
Getting a double-lung transplant has been a life-changing journey. Along the way, I've had to deal with changes in my mental health and the struggle to keep my survivor guilt in check.