Two years ago I wrote a blog about Aging with CF, that was the year I turned seventy (70) years; a milestone birthday for anyone. Who would have guessed I would still be here two years later at 72 years and enjoying an active lifestyle. As I write this blog we are having record breaking heat in California even on the coast. I am grateful to live in coastal Ventura where I can enjoy beach walks and vistas of the Channel Islands National Park.Better to be down at the beach or swimming laps, as we have no air conditioning at home. I wrote in the blog two years ago: “I want to age like sea glass. I want to enjoy the journey and let my preciousness be, not in spite of the impacts of life, but because of them.”*

The journey has continued and I am still enjoying an active lifestyle and trying to age like sea glass. I credit my four decades of regular lap swimming as the reason I am still here. I was diagnosed with CF, late in life at 64 years old. I had years of lung problems and lost a sister to CF when she was just 21 years old. The late diagnosis with CF was actually positive as I could finally get the care and treatments I needed to sustain a busy and active life. I am forever grateful to Dr. Richard Belkin and the CF Care Team at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. I am healthier in my 70’s than I was in my 60’s.

Since I am still here, I am keeping busy this summer with golf and beach walks with friends. My sister and family came to visit and we took a boat trip to Santa Cruz Island enjoyed hiking and saw an endangered Island Fox that only live on six of the eight Channel Islands. 

This year also marked 50 years since I graduated from San Jose State University (SJSU) and joined my college roommates from SJSU for another reunion. Yes, we are still enjoying the journey of life together. This year we got together with our spouses in Santa Barbara for outdoor activities that included beach walks, the Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens and a boat trip to Channel Islands.

I have supported CFLF since 2010 when I was diagnosed with CF and I wanted to give back and help others with CF live active lifestyles. I worked with CFLF staff to establish the Loretta Morris Memorial Fund to award Recreation Grants for activities that my sister and I enjoyed: swimming, golf, dancing, and horseback riding. Fifty-eight (58) donors have supported the Fund raising $64,547 for Recreation Grants to CF children and adults. In over eight years, 141 grants have been awarded. Here are comments from recent grant recipients.

• Meghan – Age 40 - California – Torrey Pines State Reserve Day Pass “Doing beach walks is one of my favorite activities. The clear salt air allows me to breathe deep and is healing.”

• Cleo – Age 2- New York - Dance - Cleo’s Mom: “Cleo is excited about dance. She asks her Dad to dance with her in our tiny kitchen, holds his hand –spinning in circles and jumping with the music playing.”

• Eliana –Age 7 – New York - “Diving Camp will help me grow and become a better diver. The scary ones become the fun ones, you just have to get through the scary part.”

*Bernadette Noll – Slow Family Living

                                                                                           Help Others Live STRONGER and LONGER-

Barbara Morris Harison lives in Ventura, CA and served on the CFLF Board. She was diagnosed with CF at age sixty four (64). She lost a sister to CF forty-seven (47) years ago and established the Loretta Morris Memorial Fund with CFLF in 2010. Barbara is retired after a long career in public parks and recreation administration and management of her own consulting business, Harison & Associates. When she is not swimming laps, beach walking or golfing she volunteers for community organizations.