Normally at this time of year, I share the same update with you all - that I’m still incredibly healthy, and that fundraising to find a cure for CF is important to fund new treatments and help those that are less healthy than I am. However, year 21 of fundraising is a little more personal for me this time around!
 

In mid-February, I had a light cough that wasn’t going away. I started to have other flu-like symptoms, and figured that I was getting another cold. After a few days of the typical remedies, I wasn’t getting any better. I woke up in the middle of the night with intense pain in my left upper body and a feeling in my chest like it was being weighed down, unlike something I’d ever experienced before with a cold. I went to urgent care, was told I had pneumonia, prescribed oral antibiotics, and figured I would be good in about a week. However, even after a few days of following the treatment plan, I had multiple high fevers, still wasn’t breathing well, and the pain on my left side was getting worse. My doctors recommended I go to the emergency room, which I did on February 28th. 

After 7 hours in the emergency room, I was told that I had sepsis in addition to the pneumonia and would be admitted to the hospital. Over the course of the next five days, I had a constant course of IV antibiotics, vest and nebulizer treatments four times a day, an iron infusion, and very little sleep. My lung function was the lowest it had ever been, but had raised enough for me to go home after five days. I spent another week at home recovering, and now am back at school doing my vest and nebulizers twice a day.

Being hospitalized for the first time was a scary and exhausting experience, but I’m so grateful for the care I received - not just from the nurses and doctors at the University of Minnesota - but from my family. My parents were there with me every day, even when I told them that they didn’t need to come. Brynn came to see me after work when she could, and overall I’m just very lucky to have the support system that I do!

So, this year more than ever, I urge you to help find a cure for cystic fibrosis! Despite new treatments, there is still SO much work to do in order to improve the lives of myself and others with CF. I’d love to see you at the walk on May 3rd!

Until it’s done,

Kyra :)