A Siblings Perspective of CF
Lindsey Giglio
Lindsey Giglio
I was pregnant with my daughter and my doctor asked me if I wanted to do a genetic screening test for cystic fibrosis. I remember asking myself "what's that?" I quickly researched it and declined the test because I had no history of CF in my family. Two months later my 36 year old sister was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.
I recall being shocked. I thought this was a "childhood disease." How is it possible she's gone her whole life with this disease and never been properly diagnosed? I was grateful too because now she at least had answers and looking back a lot of things in her life made sense. I was and am scared. Scared for what this means knowing there is no cure.
Every day since, I have wondered how my sister lives with her reality. I don't think people realize that CF not only ravages the body, it also takes a heavy toll on the mind and spirit. I see how strong she has had to be her whole life. How she had to push herself in ways no one realized and I admire her even more than I always have.
At the core, the CF Foundation and the Great Strides event is important to me because I want to help my sister. I want funding and research and I want a cure so that we can be old ladies together down the line, I want to see her feel her best every day.
Please consider participating in this event or donating to this cause to help all the brave and resilient people like my sister.
I recall being shocked. I thought this was a "childhood disease." How is it possible she's gone her whole life with this disease and never been properly diagnosed? I was grateful too because now she at least had answers and looking back a lot of things in her life made sense. I was and am scared. Scared for what this means knowing there is no cure.
Every day since, I have wondered how my sister lives with her reality. I don't think people realize that CF not only ravages the body, it also takes a heavy toll on the mind and spirit. I see how strong she has had to be her whole life. How she had to push herself in ways no one realized and I admire her even more than I always have.
At the core, the CF Foundation and the Great Strides event is important to me because I want to help my sister. I want funding and research and I want a cure so that we can be old ladies together down the line, I want to see her feel her best every day.
Please consider participating in this event or donating to this cause to help all the brave and resilient people like my sister.
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