Meet the 2019 Scholars

"Choose one inspirational quote or motto that has helped you throughout your journey with cystic fibrosis. How do you live by your quote or motto and how has it motivated you to accomplish your goals?"

Romans 5:3-5 states that "... we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." I don't know where I would be without my faith. Cystic fibrosis has caused a lot of suffering in my life, and I am able to make it through each day because I know God is with me. Despite the many trials I have gone through, including multiple hospitalizations, surgeries, and the terrible moments where I cough up blood, I have always tried to see the positive side of having cf. Living with such a horrendous disease has truly given me a unique perspective on life. I try not to take anything for granted because, as I have learned, good health is not always a given. More so than most people, I recognize just how precious life is and how I must hold on to the hope that there are better things to come. These verses in Romans teach me to rejoice because, through cystic fibrosis, God is building in me endurance and character. I don't have to be afraid of what is ahead because He has given me hope, and Hope is my middle name.