Dear Cystic Fibrosis – My open letter to CF

Dear cystic fibrosis,

Forty-six plus years ago, you entered my life. I never knew life without you and it’s likely I never will. You have given me chronic lung, digestive and sinus issues. You’ve made it so having children was a near impossibility and even reaching the age to have children was pretty slim. You’ve contributed to my anxiety and my depression. You’ve done so many awful things to me BUT you’ve done one thing for me that cancels out everything else.

You’ve given me a reason to be a fighter…and a damned good one too.

I mean I have other reasons. I have my parents, my sister, my beautiful children and wife, my friends and the rest of my family but YOU need to know that you are predominantly the reason why I’m still here. Yes, that’s right. The reason I shouldn’t be here is actually the reason I am.

I don’t know if I hate you or respect you. You’re strong. You’re persistent. You’re tenacious. All the things I want to be. That I need to be. That I absolutely have to be. You’re the reason I wake up early in the morning and go to bed late at night. You’re the reason I truly appreciate each day I spend on this earth. You’re the reason I’ve found my platform. My legacy.

A month ago a drug was approved by the FDA to improve my chances of defeating you. The truth is that I learned a long time ago that defeating you has little to do with anything physical. People have died because of you BUT they have lived because of you too. And that’s me. I live every day to the fullest because you are in my life. While I look forward to improving some of the physical symptoms of having you in my life, I will not relinquish the mental stronghold I have over you regardless of any breakthrough or cure.

So, in short, remember one thing:

I’m not dying because I have cystic fibrosis but rather I’m living because I have cystic fibrosis.

Thank you for making me a fighter.

Live your dreams and love your life.

Andy