Not long ago, I sat on my bedroom floor, hysterically crying. Everything was piling up and I honestly had no idea how I would get through the next few days... I was signed up to participate in an online virtual conference for adults with cystic fibrosis, called BreatheCon. I was suppose to go on a practice hike to train for my upcoming Xtreme Hike. And finally, I had my first follow up appointment with the transplant team at Duke University. Throw in a long work week, boy drama and the stress of being the lead planner on a volunteer event happening while I was out of town, I was done. I was past my breaking point. I felt overwhelmed and defeated. I didn't want to do any of it. I didn't want to attend BreatheCon, I didn't want to hike, I didn't want to go to Duke. I only wanted to crawl into bed and cry.
Yet, somehow, less than an hour later, I was logged into BreatheCon listening to one of the most inspiring panel discussions I've ever heard. 15 hours after that, I hiked 8 miles and was standing on top of a mountain. Another 48 hours later, I was walking out of my transplant appointment, feeling genuinely optimistic and motivated to keep pushing through the adversity that is living with cystic fibrosis.
It didn't just happen "somehow" though. It all happened because of you. Everything that's happened in the last 25 years, everything I've been able to do, is because of you.
I often get praised for being strong, resilient and accomplished despite my cystic fibrosis, but I didn't become any of those things by chance. I had the most incredible role model to show me how. Last weekend was a challenge and I got through it, but not by myself. I got through it, because of you.