If you’re a country fanatic like me, then you’ve probably heard Lee Brice’s song “Love like crazy” It’s one of my favorite songs because it conveys a real message unlike some (okay MOST) songs that are on the radio… And it can relate it to CF life perfectly!

1. Be a Best Friend: This is a big one for me. Being a best friend doesn’t mean just having someone to hang out with, it means loving and supporting your friends, being there when they need it, listening. I have found true best friends this year, people who I can honestly say that I love because they give me the love and support that I need. They are the people who will openly discuss CF with me, who take the time to learn about it, and who I know would be right there by my side if I ever needed them. One of these friends is Sarah. She left for school in Michigan yesterday and I miss her so much already. I have never met someone who listens as well as she does, who can tell such hilarious stories, and who loves her friends without hesitation.

2. Tell the Truth: Honesty is key. I will admit, I have not always told the truth in every instance of my life. But I guarantee, in those incidences, if I did things would have worked out a lot more smoothly. Its important to be honest with yourself too. I don’t hold back when I’m not feeling well, because I know being honest with myself means that I can get the help I need, if that means inhaled antibiotics, a picc line, or just some rest. Though I used to cheat out on my treatments in my younger days, now I’m completely honest about doing them every day. Because I rarely skip them, there is no need to lie about doing them. As a parent, you have to be honest about how your child is feeling too, regardless of how you wish they were feeling. Yesterday, while at the hospital for a check-up, I saw a mom pushing her (clearly sick) son in a wheelchair. His dad asked him how he was feeling and she piped in “HE’S FEELING WONDERFUL”… when he clearly was not. This kid was probably a young teenager and could speak for himself, and his mom wasn’t being honest about how he was feeling.

3. Overuse I Love You: Its never too late to tell someone you love them, and its never too soon to decrease the frequency you say it. If you love and care for someone, they should know it, you never know what might happen to you or them.

4. Go to Work: This doesn’t just mean that you shouldn’t call into work if you’re sick, or that you should have a job. It means that you should get up and do what you are supposed to. “Going to work” for a CFer might be doing their treatments or exercising. There is no beating around the bush. You have to “Go to Work” if you want to stay healthy and see results.

5. Do Your Best: Because CF tries to get in the way of other things in my life, I do my best at the things I have control of especially school work. If I have the means and the brain to do my best at school, then there is NOTHING CF can do to stop that. It seems most CFers I have talked to have this mentality. I want to work hard so I can have a bright future. If I do my best now, then I will have an easier time down the road.

6. Don’t Outsmart Your Common Sense: Common sense: take care of yourself. Period. There is no reason why you shouldn’t. Do it for you, do it for the people you love.

7. Never Let Your Praying Knees Get Lazy: Though I’m not necessarily an extremely religious person, this line means a lot to me as well. Praying for some people is a sort of reflection, a way to keep people who need support in their thoughts. On the religious side, my mom’s godmother used to pray the rosary for people who needed it and I’ve seen amazing things happen. Even if you aren’t religious, don’t forget to pray, reflect, and to look back on what and who are important in your life.

8. And Love Like Crazy: I’ve never been hesitant to give my heart to someone, even though I know how much it can hurt for it to break. I’m so lucky to have a boyfriend like Kyle, because he truly does love me like crazy. He gives me support, gives me a reason to stay healthy, and he celebrates the little victories (like good PFTs) with me. I also love my parents, my brothers, and my whole extended family like crazy. They have ALWAYS been there every step of the way for me, whether its raising money for CF, sending a card, or asking how I’m doing. They rock!

So thank you Lee Brice for writing such a beautiful song that has meaning and truth. 🙂

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