Growing up, I used to say, “One thing I never want to die without doing is skydiving.” It felt like a far-off dream; the one big adventure I believed would be enough, because growing up in sickness taught me no [...]

Have you ever stepped outside at night and felt the sky come alive? The first time I saw the Aurora Borealis, it felt exactly like that — the sky dancing with color right above me. It was one of the most incredible experience [...]

In January 2025, my friend Claire H. and I decided to take on a big challenge. Claire, who has cystic fibrosis, is 26 years post–double lung transplant and 10 years post–kidney transplant. She is 50 years old. I am 66 years o [...]

Pack your bags, we're going on a trip! We aren’t going to the beach or the mountains—we’re going to the hospital. You’re probably thinking, Oh, no big deal, it’s just a few days away from home. Wrong. It’s a two-week hospital [...]

When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. For the early part of my childhood, my health mainly consisted of frequent visits to the doctor, airway clearance treatments, and countless medications. I was [...]

It’s back-to-school time again! This season brings excitement—but when you’re living with a chronic illness, it can also bring anxiety. I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at just three weeks old, so throughout my child [...]

I remember the first CFRI educational conference I attended. This was decades ago. I was a young adult with CF and had recently moved to the Bay Area from Nebraska. I didn’t know a living soul with CF outside of my family. Wh [...]

A funny thing happened right around the time I sat down to write about my experience with CFRI’s Adult CF Retreat. Although it’s existed for nearly 30 years, evolving to provide those of us fighting Cystic Fibrosis with a saf [...]

My journey as a cystic fibrosis advocate began the moment my son, Aiden, was diagnosed with CF through newborn screening in 2017. Aiden was just a few weeks old, and I was suddenly thrust into a world filled with new challeng [...]

The diagnosis changed everything for me. It was the moment my world shifted and everything I knew about parenting and strength was redefined. I never imagined that raising my child would look like this. My days on parental le [...]