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Motiv8: Eight Helpful Tips To Getting A Start To Your Day And A Good Workout

Even the average person has difficulty getting out of bed in the morning; but pair that warm, comfy bed with a life threatening disease, and leaving the house seems nearly impossible. Unfortunately, someone with Cystic Fibrosis doesn't get the luxury of a weekend. If we want to continue fighting, we must get up and do our treatments, take our pills, and yes, even hitting the gym is essential to our survival. The following list is how I manage to overcome the call of the mattress and gear up for my daily battle against Cystic Fibrosis.

 

From Ordinary to Extraordinary: The Power of Support

It was October 2013, and her name was Dana. There she sat in the basement of our local children’s hospital – drenched in a fluorescent glow and clutching a half-eaten submarine sandwich. Her hair was cut into the pointiest of pixies, and her scarf had found that magical balance between perfectly styled and casually draped.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her. To me, she was a God send.

What’s In the Bag? A Few Tips for Managing CF Nutritional Needs on the Go

Our cooler bag comes with us everywhere we go. We rarely leave the house without it. I cannot help but have that “what if?” feeling if I am just running out quickly. What if I leave empty handed and our car breaks down? What if we have an earthquake and can’t get home for a bit? Dramatic, I know, but the reality of managing CF on the go includes thinking about those “what if” scenarios.

12 Tips on Exercise with CF

If You Can't Fly...

Being relatively new to South Florida, and an avid outdoors enthusiast, I have had to make some adjustments in my routines, exercises of interest, nutrition and hydration. Over the 17 years I lived in Vermont, I really enjoyed both road and off-road bicycling, hiking up mountains with my dogs, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, swimming in the lake during the summer, and rock climbing both indoors and outdoors. 

How To Stay On Top of It all, So We Can Be On Top of it All

When our first son was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis back in 2009, my mind was, of course, racing. We had a two-year-old daughter, and my husband was deployed with the Army. I knew at that time that I had a choice. I could let CF define us, or I could define how CF was going to play a part in our lives. We are a busy, active family; and I couldn’t imagine life without all the things we love. So, I chose to dig in and get things organized. We now have four children (9, 7, 5, & 2); two of the four have CF. 

Running Towards A Dream

Ever since I was little, I’ve been competitive and driven in whatever I’ve done. It’s in my DNA. I don’t even like to lose when playing cards or board games. Growing up with CF, all I ever heard was the limitations that CF had on me, and what I could or could not do. As I’m now about to turn 30 later this year, I’m refusing to let those limitations stop me – now more than ever.

Time Traveling with Cystic Fibrosis

Dear Cystic Fibrosis,

Lately I’ve been feeling like time is irrelevant to anything that is going on, which is interesting because living with you, a chronic illness, pressures one into thinking the exact opposite. But why cant I believe that my lungs are better off than they were a year ago, as if I’ve gone back in time? Why can’t I believe that my body has become stronger in fighting this disease, like it was in my early 20s? Looking at you as a progressive disease might be the completely wrong approach to this whole situation.

My Big Sister Has CF

Although we knew our little Emma Sky would be born with CF, she never really knew she had anything different from anyone else until she started school. We brought her up to understand that “Nobody’s perfect” and that usually people have something or another they’re dealing with… Whether it’s another genetic disease, an allergy, a gluten intolerance, diabetes, or sometimes just personal issues. 

Who Knows Where the Time Goes- Aging with CF

Twenty years ago no one would imagine a blog about aging with CF. Yet, here I am putting this one together as I am about to celebrate my 70th birthday at the end of the month. Where has all the time gone? I was born on Memorial Day in 1946, one of the many early, baby boomer children born post World War II. I lost a younger sister to CF 45 years ago. She was only 21 years old. 

Tips For Travel With CF

While many find travel intimidating by itself, doing so while planning for CF needs may seem like just too much. But with a few simple tips, the stress and anxiety can be minimized.

Medications:

- Plan your refills - Consider up to a month in advanced the timing of your trip, and make sure your prescription refill schedule will cover the dates you plan to be away. If your trip falls the week you tend to refill, speak with your pharmacy as they may be able to process things a little bit earlier than normal.

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