Dear friends,
 

Cystic fibrosis (CF) has been a part of my life from the very beginning. My sister, Stacy, was born with CF, and I grew up watching her face this cruel disease with strength and resilience. Doctors once told my family she wouldn’t live to see 18, but thanks to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and generous donors (yes, like you!), she’s now 38 and thriving.
 

Years later, just as I was stepping into adulthood and living far from home, life brought me Magda. We met in Spanish class while I was teaching for two years in Madrid. Magda was born in Poland and diagnosed with CF at age 9. When her doctors told her family there was nothing more they could do, they made the brave choice to move to Spain in search of better care. The day I found out Magda had CF was the day we became inseparable.
 

I was with Magda when she received a double lung transplant 17 years ago - a day we celebrated as her second birthday every year. We called each other amigas amarillas, a nod to the beautiful idea in The Yellow World: those rare people who appear when you need them most, understand you on a soul-deep level, and change your life forever.
 

After her transplant, Magda lived more vibrantly than most people ever dream. The girl didn't stop. She earned three master’s degrees, became a lawyer and professor, traveled the world, learned new languages, and married a kind and loving man. She filled her every breath with purpose and determination.
 

This past year, Magda's body couldn’t keep up with her spirit. She lost kidney function, went into cardiac arrest, and slipped into a coma. I flew to Spain the moment I heard, and I’m grateful I was able to be by her side as she passed.
 

I miss her every single day. And I carry her with me, always.
 

That’s why I’m walking in Great Strides San Diego. For Magda. For Stacy. For all of the CF fighters in the world.
 

Because even with all the progress, there is still no cure. Lives are still being cut short. And for 10% of people with CF - including my sister - there are no game changing medications at all. We need better treatments, more breakthroughs, and a future where no one loses their breath too soon.
 

Please consider supporting my walk. Help me honor Magda’s legacy, support Stacy’s ongoing fight, and move us one step closer to a cure for all.
 

With love and gratitude,
Lisa

P.S. My goal is to raise at least $10,000! Help me get there!