Meet the 2024 Scholars

"Describe a defining moment in your journey with CF that sparked personal growth or resilience. How did this experience affect you and what did you learn from this moment?"

A defining moment in my Cystic Fibrosis journey was getting my G-tube removed. When I was younger I spent a lot of time in the hospital and struggled to gain weight. When I was four years old I spent 38 consecutive days in the hospital. During this time I had a G-tube put in my stomach. This was a pivotal point in my life. I couldn't go down slide on my stomach and was afraid my G-tube would come out if I slid down slip and slide on my belly. For the most part, Cystic Fibrosis is an invisible illness, but my G-tube was the one thing I couldn't hide. Other girls would talk about it when I changed in gym class. I struggled mentally because I had something that told the whole world I was sick. I always wore a swim shirt over my bathing suit when swimming so nobody else would see it. When I was younger I would look for any excuse to escape my disease. I would play sports, even if they required a lot of cardio. I would bolt from my vest machine the second it was over to go outside and play. But having a G-tube was always a little reminder that I was different than everyone else. Finally, I got to a healthy weight and was able to maintain a proper BMI. I still used my G-tube when I would get sick, but didn't have to do the nightly nutrition pumps. During one of my routine check-up appointments, we scheduled a day to get it removed. About a month before this appointment I went swimming with a couple of my friends at the pool. At the pool, there was a high dive my friends and I would always jump off of. This time I climbed up the steps of the high dive and walked out to the end, I jumped once, twice, and could feel myself soaring in the air. I performed the best cannonball the world had ever seen. When I came back up to the surface to receive my score from my friends something felt different. I felt my stomach, but my G-tube was no longer there. I panicked and ran to my mother nearby. We called the doctor and she said it was ok to leave. For the next couple of days, I held my hand on my stomach where the tube had been for 11 years. It felt uncomfortable, but I was proud that I had worked hard to get it out. I still have a hole where it once was to remind me how far I've come. I'm not ashamed of my scar because it shows the battle I go through every day and it reminds me that CF is a battle I can win.