“This post was sponsored by Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis Services as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received compensation as a thank you for my post.
May is Cystic FibrosisAwareness Month, and I’m proud to be helping raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis. Did you know Cystic Fibrosis (CF) affects about 30,000 children and adults, right here in the United States? My best friend and closest cousin is one of them. She was diagnosed at only 26 years of age and still wakes up with a smile on her face. I’m so proud of her; she’s my hero.
I know in a way my cousin and her loved ones were scared when she was diagnosed, but I think there was a bit of relief because there was finally a reason for all her unexplainable health problems – weight loss, major tummy issues, and more. Honestly, before this, I had never heard of Cystic Fibrosis. It’s something we all had to learn more about so we could support her as much as possible. It’s amazing the support she has; I’m so thankful for it because it’s what helps her wake up each day and look at the brighter side of things. Without love and support, I don’t know she would have come back from her slip into depression.
How Much Do You Know About Cystic Fibrosis?
What is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a complex condition; it’s something she will deal with for the rest of her life. She is reminded that she has CF daily, I don’t know if there is ever a time she forgets.
See CF primarily affects the digestive and respiratory systems. There are many people with CF, who are isolated from other people due to the increased risk of cross contamination and infection.
Can you imagine having to pull yourself away from the world like that? It would be so difficult. It’s no wonder many CF patients report high levels of depression and anxiety which can often impact the disease severity and outcomes. Thankfully my cousin was able to pull herself out of her depression, but it’s something she continues to fight. I can’t say that I blame her, she was always such a social butterfly and to have all that taken away from one day to the next is a lot to ask such a young person. She can still go and do things but not the way she used to; she has to be very careful.
What Can Be Done To Help Those Suffering From CF?
Adhering to medications, which ultimately leads to better health outcomes and improved life experiences. CF affects everyone differently, so CF patients often take different medicines, but medication adherence is still important for those living with CF.
What’s my cousin’s day like living with CF?
She certainly doesn’t have a typical day, each day is different and filled with things like lung exercises, walking on the treadmill, taking medications, sanitation, eating healthy, getting enough sleep, nebulizers, meeting her daily calorie intake and finding a way to smile and laugh each day. According to her, it’s the best way for her to keep her spirits up.
Living with CF is by no means a walk in the park, but I am proud of my cousin, she is so strong. She’s recently been talking about starting her YouTube channel to share her journey and help others. Don’t tell her but her birthday is next month, and we’re all getting together and buying her all the equipment she needs to begin sharing her journey. I think it will be good for her and help give her another reason to wake up with that beautiful smile on her face.
Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Champions “Navigating The Journey Together
Walgreens CF Champions have learned to make the most of each day, and they do this by sharing their amazing stories and advice with people around the world.
Some days I, and I know it has to be much worse for my cousin, so I often hunt for inspiring quotes and stories to keep her hopeful, and it helps me too. I am a firm believer that staying optimistic and confident does a lot more than falling into depression. I recently read about an amazing young lady a tad bit younger than my cousin who was diagnosed with CF when she was only seven weeks old and is now 26. I found her story on the
I recently read about an amazing young lady a tad bit younger than my cousin who was diagnosed with CF when she was only seven weeks old and is now 26. I found her story on the Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis Champions page here. Of course, I wanted to share her story with my cousin, especially because she has a YouTube channel where she shares her journey of living with CF. Since my cousin wants to start a YouTube channel to share her story, I thought it might be something she enjoys.
When I called my cousin to tell her about the story I had read at the Walgreens CF Champions page she informed me she had already followed her on YouTube. Which sort of burst my bubble a bit because that was what I wanted to tell her next, lol. She already knew, but it’s okay. It might be why my cousin works as hard as she does to take care of herself and do things that reminded her of who she is a part of CF.
Learn more about Walgreen Cystic Fibrosis Champions program on their website at Walgreens.com.
