It is a well known fact that most ailments have a better outcome when you adhere to doctor’s orders and take medication as prescribed. Oftentimes, even with diligent care, people with Cystic Fibrosis can become dangerously ill and require a lung transplant in order to survive. Just recently a friend of mine received her second lung transplant after a lifelong journey to wellness. After spending nearly a year in the hospital, she’s finally out living her life as any 30 something should be. While I was aware of Cystic Fibrosis as an elementary school child, it was uncommon to know details of the disease. Many people first hear of Cystic Fibrosis when they start their frequent round of tests once becoming pregnant. My doctor checked to see if I was a carrier, and even though I wasn’t, each of my babies were screened at birth to see if they were carriers or had Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a lifelong complex condition that affects approximately 30,000 children and adults in the US.
Seeing someone go through the life-altering routine of Cystic Fibrosis, I was happy to join Walgreens to spread the word about Navigating the Journey together with the Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis CF Champions program and raise awareness for CF Awareness Month, which is during the month of May. Regardless of how far you are on your CF journey, medication is the key to a better health outcome. Although my friend has received her lung transplant and is doing much better, she will be on medication for the rest of her life to keep her healthy and ensure she reaches her life goals. Since she can have a set back at any time, she opts not to attend many social gatherings. The constant fear of contracting an infection or a simple cold may hold her back sometimes, but seeing the transformation that has taken place after her lung transplant has been amazing.
You can find out more about the Walgreens CF Champions program.