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?"

Because of its greater and personable qualities, my favorite word is resilient. I found the real definition of what it means to be resilient when I was 11 years old inside OHSU, nearly my second home. Around that time of my life, from 7-13 years old, I was in and out of the hospital so often it was as if I was a regular at Starbucks. Each admission, including one memorable visit, was a reminder that I needed to fight harder to recover, enhance my pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and reclaim my health. I had been used to the regimens of the hospital. But this was no regular tune-up; it was a learning lesson. As usual, I went into surgery to place my PICC line. Upon waking up, it failed to work and flush. I went to get another PICC line placed. "This one should work." Nope. Well, it worked only when I kept my arm straight to the side of my body. As if to make a right angle with my armpit and the side of my body. I had to stay like that for nearly 16 hours every day, including sleep because of the duration of the IV medications. If I let my arm fall or relax, the machine would beep and stop administering the medicines. When I bent my arm, the PICC line would kink. I spent many nights crying to my mom out of frustration and my shoulder aching from holding it straight. I had 2 options. I could cry and let the PICC line win. Or I could work harder on my breathing treatments and do as much as I can to get better faster to be released sooner. At the age of 11, I realized that what I put into the adversity, I would gain it right back. I changed my mindset; rather than sob and be a loser in a battle with a plastic tube, I tried to crack jokes about it and look at a more valuable point of view. So, here I was, in my hospital room arm propped up on a pillow for the majority of the day, growing a mindset that would persist into my life now as an 18-year-old. Though it came from holding my arm at a 90° angle, I plan to get a tattoo that says resilient. Cystic Fibrosis has taught me nothing short of just that. After all, who won all the games and challenges it put in my way? Me. I am resilient. It's why "resilient" is not just my favorite word; it's a tribute to overcoming the seemingly impossible. Thank you for teaching me the essence of overcoming and for giving profound meaning to my favorite word. I can confidently say that I am so proud of that little 11-year-old girl. That stupid little plastic wire, too.