The following is a blog from "Breathing Deeply, Laughing Loudly, and Living Fully," another blogging CF woman. I haven't watched all the attached video, but I agree with much of what this blog says. I plan on watching the youtube video, and I hope you do, too. The video focuses on end-stage CF life, which I am nowhere near, nor do I plan on being close to any time soon. However, I know that many CF patients face lung transplants as the disease progresses. Kristie, the girl in the video, displays hope and joy, even while facing end-stage CF and all the problems that come along with it.
"I debated about whether I wanted to write this blog for a little while this morning. I decided, ultimately, I want to share my thoughts about this topic.
A few weeks ago, I had heard from some of my English friends who also have CF, that a documentary was airing about a 21 year old CFer, Kirstie Mills. Kirstie was in the end-stages of our disease and was placed on the transplant list. During her time on the transplant list she was also planning her wedding, sure that no matter what the outcome, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with the man she loves.
This is going to sound terrible, but when I first heard about it, I was somewhat relieved it wasn't playing in the U.S. because I didn't think I could handle watching it. I have known one person very closely, who has gone through transplant, but I never saw him prior to that. I'm going to be 100% honest right now and say that it terrifies me to think about the end-stage of this disease. I don't like thinking about not being able to walk without oxygen, or not being able to do the normal daily things that I currently take for granted. I am petrified about the changes that come with end-stage disease. So, I was glad I didn't have the option to watch it.
Then, I found out it was being aired in the United States under the title, Breathless Bride: Dying to Live. Suddenly, I had to face the decision of whether or not to watch it. I, sadly enough, chose not to watch it when it aired last night on TLC. I just didn't think I could emotionally or mentally handle it last night. I didn't even DVR it.
This morning, I woke up and realized that I needed to watch it. My sister-in-law had seen it last night, and I was honestly kicking myself for not watching it as it aired on the television. After preparing myself for the tears that I knew would come, I found the link for the youtube version of the show, and I watched it in its entirety. Yes, I cried. Yes, a lot. But, there was more to it than that. I was truly, honestly, inspired by Kirstie's story. She maintained a sense of hope and optimism through the entire transplant process. She showed me that while the end-stage of this disease are just as terrifying as I imagined it to be, it's not hopeless. There are days that are better than others, and there is still love and hope and happiness during that time. It's just always overshadowed by the hardship of breathing.
Kirstie's story had a very happy ending. She has received her new lungs and is doing wonderfully! I want to remind my readers one more time that CF effects every single person differently. Kirstie needed a transplant at 21, but there is also an 84-year-old man living with CF. CF is not a disease that can be easily defined. That said, the following video provides a wonderful look at what the end-stage of CF looks like, and what it is like to be on the transplant list. I hope you take the time to watch it, think about becoming an organ donor, and also think about making any sort of donation (time or financial) to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation." --Megan
...
"I debated about whether I wanted to write this blog for a little while this morning. I decided, ultimately, I want to share my thoughts about this topic.
A few weeks ago, I had heard from some of my English friends who also have CF, that a documentary was airing about a 21 year old CFer, Kirstie Mills. Kirstie was in the end-stages of our disease and was placed on the transplant list. During her time on the transplant list she was also planning her wedding, sure that no matter what the outcome, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with the man she loves.
This is going to sound terrible, but when I first heard about it, I was somewhat relieved it wasn't playing in the U.S. because I didn't think I could handle watching it. I have known one person very closely, who has gone through transplant, but I never saw him prior to that. I'm going to be 100% honest right now and say that it terrifies me to think about the end-stage of this disease. I don't like thinking about not being able to walk without oxygen, or not being able to do the normal daily things that I currently take for granted. I am petrified about the changes that come with end-stage disease. So, I was glad I didn't have the option to watch it.
Then, I found out it was being aired in the United States under the title, Breathless Bride: Dying to Live. Suddenly, I had to face the decision of whether or not to watch it. I, sadly enough, chose not to watch it when it aired last night on TLC. I just didn't think I could emotionally or mentally handle it last night. I didn't even DVR it.
This morning, I woke up and realized that I needed to watch it. My sister-in-law had seen it last night, and I was honestly kicking myself for not watching it as it aired on the television. After preparing myself for the tears that I knew would come, I found the link for the youtube version of the show, and I watched it in its entirety. Yes, I cried. Yes, a lot. But, there was more to it than that. I was truly, honestly, inspired by Kirstie's story. She maintained a sense of hope and optimism through the entire transplant process. She showed me that while the end-stage of this disease are just as terrifying as I imagined it to be, it's not hopeless. There are days that are better than others, and there is still love and hope and happiness during that time. It's just always overshadowed by the hardship of breathing.
Kirstie's story had a very happy ending. She has received her new lungs and is doing wonderfully! I want to remind my readers one more time that CF effects every single person differently. Kirstie needed a transplant at 21, but there is also an 84-year-old man living with CF. CF is not a disease that can be easily defined. That said, the following video provides a wonderful look at what the end-stage of CF looks like, and what it is like to be on the transplant list. I hope you take the time to watch it, think about becoming an organ donor, and also think about making any sort of donation (time or financial) to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation." --Megan
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