Transcript

Three days after I was born, my parents were informed, very matter-of-factly, that their newborn baby had a genetic condition called Cystic Fibrosis and would most likely not live to see her 18th birthday. No one in our family history had CF so it was scary to research this disease that attacks the lungs and pancreas and find out that life would never be normal for me. But they refused to stand by and let this disease control my future. They made sure I ate right, took my digestive enzymes, stayed active, and got my breathing treatments twice a day which they had to do by hand for 30 minutes each morning and evening. I would go to the doctor for a full checkup every 3 months. I remember vividly the lung function test which consisted of blowing as hard as I could into a tube that measured my overall lung capacity. My mom would stand nearby each time cheering, “Blow! Blow! You can do it!” That always gave me the extra boost I needed to do just a little more than I thought I could. She dedicated herself to my health and helping me live to my full potential. She passed away when I was 13, but even now at 32, 14 years past my 18th birthday, whenever I go to the doctor and have my lung function test, I hear her next to me: “Blow! Blow! You can do it!” My philosophy of healthcare is to never stop believing that someone, with love and faith can overcome any obstacle.