A very short story about cystic fibrosis

[gwendally]

My husband's sister died of cystic fibrosis when he was twenty (and she was 23, the age our son is now.) I only know her through the shape of the hole she left. Her art hanging on our walls. Her picture in family photos. My husband's attitude towards therapy, which he associates with that time. My mother-in-law's hesitation when, forty years after

Comments

[pondhopper]

This has touched me deeply. Thank you for relating it.

[froggoddess]

<3

[aelf]

I'm glad she's remembered beyond her family. People with CF can (still) end up living very sheltered lives, so being remembered beyond the family is such a big deal. Thank you for sharing the story.

My cousin's daughter has CF. She, fortunately, has a rare permutation that is being helped by a new drug. Because of it, she's able to go to high school, and even participate in the school band. It's amazing. Her doctors think she has a decent chance of making it past her 30's, which still feels awfully young. But the strides made in CF treatment in the past decades mean my cousin's daughter has a chance at something of a life beyond just being sick. And it's all the kids who had CF before her, and their doctors, who have made it possible for her to have moments where she doesn't have to think about having CF.

[jennelle137]

That is so very touching.