I have come to the conclusion that writing my Great Strides letter has gotten harder. It hasn’t become more difficult because I have forgotten the goal. It’s not because I don’t realize how present our Legion has been and continues to be. And it isn’t because I have forgotten the most important promise I ever made-- which was to continue to fight for a cure in Leann’s name.

It has become harder because I don’t have any more new updates to share. I don’t have new milestones to tell you or new pictures to put with my letter and my goal. This seems to be a trigger for my grief in missing Leann. I think this is something that can be relatable to anyone who has ever lost someone special to them. You yearn for more. More of everything. More of all the day-to-day little things that we all just naturally go through, without realizing how special each little thing really is. You wish for all the what ifs and all the what could haves. 

So as I write this, I think my goal this year is for all the families who are very much still in ebbs and flows of cystic fibrosis. Who are fighting for their child, their sibling, their spouse, their niece or nephew, their aunt or uncle, their friend, or, for themselves. I am hoping that there is more for those still in the fight. More memories, more milestones, more day-to-day little things. More strides closer to a cure. And most of all, I hope you get to the day where CF stands for Cure Found. 

I feel like a broken record, but the hole I feel without my sister is still deep. There are moments where I feel like I can jump over that hole, and other days where I feel like I have fallen in without a shovel. I know that with the love and support of our Legion, there is always someone ready to stand in for the “more”. But damn, what I would give for one more “more” with Leann. Here’s to our angel. And here’s to those who I want all the mores for.