Meet the 2021 Scholars

"Living through a global pandemic with a chronic illness, what is one piece of inspirational advice that you would give to other students with CF who are in the same or similar position?"

When COVID-19 hit, a global pandemic was not something that CF patients were ill-prepared for. I think we all have worn masks before 2019 and social distanced during flu season, but I really wanted to use quarantine to change some other healthy habits, like focusing on eating healthier, exercise, and general mental health. This drive to change my habits was not only because of the pandemic but also because I started taking a new drug in December 2019 and my health really improved, but certain things that a CF patient can traditionally overlook gave me a reality check. I no longer needed to focus on taking in as many calories as possible, and I also had to be very conscious of everyone else’s health during the pandemic, not merely my own. I was able to spend the pandemic at home with my family. I experimented with healthy recipes, ran and walked my dogs with my sisters, and learned how to really take care of myself in ways other than breathing treatments and daily pills. Whether or not it is healthy habits, I encourage every CF patient to glean something positive from their experience in a global pandemic. Don’t let online school limit your communication with people and be glad that we can go to gyms, restaurants, and shops now (at least in Texas). There is always a glimmer of light even in the darkest of situations and I believe us resilient CF patients are armed to find it.