Author: Lauren

My freshman year is officially over, the stress of my last final paper is gone. Grades have been released and I even made the Dean’s List! I can’t believe that the year is over and the summer has begun, but it is just in time. Looking back, I learned so much about myself. I’ve learned how to be responsible and managed to balance CF care with getting an education. I was only really sick once during the year, with the exception of this past bug. For all of you CF parents reading, your kids will be able to live normal lives with this disease, just look at me! Coming home after a year of college really makes you see who your real friends really are. My best ones from home were concerned how I was doing and understood that I needed to stay in most nights. When I did see them, they made me laugh and we had so much fun. Others never bothered to say hello since I’ve been back, but those are the ones who were never really there to begin with. I’m so lucky to have a great group of friends at Stonehill too. They have shown me so much love, support, and laughter! There’s nothing like a slap in the face from CF to make me realize how grateful I am for the little things...

Today I woke up early to take my stats final. Halfway through, after coughing the entire time, I ran to the bathroom and coughed till i puked. I broke down, so sick of being sick. I came back and looked at my test, all in a fog from getting no sleep the night before, and passed it in not caring if I failed. When I give up then I know something’s not right. All I wanted at that point was to go home. I called my mom and we got in touch with my doctor. Then I went back to my dorm in tears to get a hug from my best friend. Being sick was not in my plans and I needed to just cry it out. Then I packed what I could, my friends helped me load my mom’s car, and we headed into boston. I had a bag packed ready to stay over at the hospital, at that point I didn’t want to go back home, i just wanted to be comfortable and to get better in the best way possible. I got there and they even booked a room for me based on how I was feeling. But then I did PFT’s and my FEV1 was 95!!! It hasn’t been that high since january of 09. My lungs sounded great and my chest x-ray didn’t have...

I thought having to study for finals and writing papers was enough stress for the week. But my body had other plans… around friday I was hit with some sort of sinus and/or cold symptoms, runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, etc. I thought switching my otc allergy meds would do the trick but it only got worse. The doc prescribed a stronger version of advair, an allergy nose spray, and prednizone. Those helped with the chest pain and stuffy nose but now I’m still left with a terrible cough that is making even strangers cringe. I haven’t stopped coughing for 3 hours!!!! If that’s not enough, tonight I have to learn 2 chapters of statistics for a final at 9 AM and I have a 6 page research paper due at 5 o’clock tomorrow (it is now 9:42 PM). I know I won’t get to the paper tonight, so I’ll have spend the day writing it when I thought my stress would be over after my final. On top of all this, I’m trying to move out all of my stuff as I check out of my dorm at 5 o clock pm tomorrow. My room is filled with dust and boxes of stuff. I don’t understand how it’s possible to move 9 months of my life!! If the prednizone and advair don’t significantly kick in tomorrow I have...

Happy Mother’s Day to my amazing mother who has made me everything I am today! Finishing up my first year at college has made me realize what an independent person she has made me and how thankful I am to have such a kind, caring, and fun-loving mother. I LOVE YOU MOM!!!...