As Thanksgiving approached, I could not help but think of all the things I am thankful for in 2019. I wanted to share this gratitude with you all so we could celebrate some major achievements for the cystic fibrosis community and some of my personal gratitudes this year. You will notice that none of my sports teams are mentioned below. Hopefully in 2020, one of them can join this list.
February
- Avery became a teenager. The crazy thing is growing up many in the CF community doubted someone born in the early 1970’s with cystic fibrosis could even live into their teens and here I am now having my own teenager. Now will I survive having a teenager? That’s another story altogether.
March
- Avery had her bat mitzvah in mid-March. We were so proud of her. She was the first of my grandmother’s great grandchildren to have a bat mitzvah. My grandmother Rose will turn 96 this year and survived the holocaust. Crazy to think she would have a great grandchild old enough to have a bat mitzvah. We also celebrated family members Stella and Aaron having their celebrations too. A month earlier was such a tough time with Avery’s grandmother/Andrea’s mom passing away. Roberta Valentine was an amazing person with an incredible heart. She and Avery had a special bond. We know that Avery did her proud. We miss her very much.
- From March to July, I was able to coach my children for possibly the last time. I assisted Avery’s Sun Devil team as Avery finished her 12 and under rec days at Sandy Springs Youth Sports and a few months later would finish her middle school career at Davis. I head coached Ethan’s baseball team and our Yankees made it all the way to the championship series. I also was an assistant coach on his summer travel ball team. It was an absolute blast. I realize as he gets older there is less of a chance I’ll be coaching him. I’m so proud of how much he’s improved.
May
- The CF Warrior Project: 65 Stories of Triumph against Cystic Fibrosis debuted. I am so proud of this book and the people who let me share their stories. Thank you to all the warriors who gave up their time to be part of this. This project went from a book to a Movement of hope for all the CF Warriors out there. I am excited to continue to raise hope and funds for CF through the project in 2020.
July
- I ran my 23rd consecutive Peachtree Road Race. This 10K is something I am so proud of. It is not easy to have a lung disease and run too. I’ve made this race my annual statement to CF that I am not going down without a fight. I want to thank my Uncle Bobby for introducing me to it. We also celebrated Andrea’s birthday!!!
August
- This August, the Lipman family grew as we rescued Lucky Lipman from the Atlanta Humane Society. Lucky has quickly adapted to being a Lipman. We love him so much. Ethan also celebrated his 11th birthday!
September
- Andrea and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. Hard to believe that this amazing woman is a part of my life. I always hear that behind every great man is a great woman. I disagree. I think that behind every great woman is a man learning to be a good man. Andrea is the strongest person in our household. She doesn’t talk much about her battle against multiple sclerosis (MS) and her victory over thyroid cancer but I can say that I learned how to be strong from her.
- I celebrated my 46th birthday. Though it’s not a meaningful birthday, anyone with a chronic disease knows that every birthday is so meaningful. I never thought I’d have grey hair and hear I am with a hair full of them.
October
- I was invited to appear on the 3rd Hour of The Today Show! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would appear on a national network. It was an honor to represent the CF Warrior Project and my family’s foundation Wish For Wendy. What I didn’t realize was that was the second biggest thing that would happen to me that day.
- Trikafta was finally approved. That same day Trikafta was approved by the FDA. For the first time, I would be able to take a CFTR protein modulator. I’d waited all my life for this.
- Wish for Wendy celebrated its 20th year. Thank you so much to all of our supporters, my family, our committee, our donors, our volunteers, our umpires, our teams and our sponsors for making this event so successful. We have raised $4.3 million in 20 years. In one week, I’d been on The Today Show, learned about a new drug that could possibly extend my life and we celebrated our annual charity event in memory of my sister. Let’s just say it was a good week.
November
- I was a featured author in the 28th annual Marcus Jewish Community Center Book Festival. It was an honor being able to present along with Brent and Kyle Pease who had a wonderful story to share.
- I was able to visit Los Angeles and appear on the local ABC affiliate as well as run the Rose Bowl steps and even was one of the first finishers.
- On Saturday, November 24, 2019, I took my first dose of Trikafta. My life will never be the same. And for that and for the entire 2019, I am grateful.
These are just some of the amazing things that happened this year! I am so very grateful for these moments and the support that has been given to me and the CF Warrior project in 2019. together we can raise even more hope and come closer to a cure.
Live your dreams and love your life.
Andy