My niece, Madalyn—the one who made me RaRa—fought a long, hard battle with Cystic Fibrosis for 18 years. CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. Nothing about her life was easy. Every day was filled with breathing treatments, feeding tubes, and medication after medication to help ease her symptoms and prolong her life. In her 18 years, countless months were spent hospitalized and included many surgeries.

But let me tell you—she didn’t allow CF to slow her down or decrease her JOY to live life to the FULLEST! A trip? Our girl was all in, most of the time hiding her difficulty to breathe. A family wiffle ball tournament? Huffing and puffing, yet competitive until the end. She never wanted to miss out on anything—and she didn’t.

In 2018, she received a double lung transplant, which gave us almost four more years with her. We will always be thankful to her donor family for choosing to give life. Every day is a gift, and no breath is taken for granted. Maddy’s transplant lungs took their first breath on September 23, 2018, at 8:18 p.m. From that moment on, our family has claimed Romans 8:18:

“The pain that you’ve been feeling cannot compare to the JOY that is coming!

There is currently no cure for CF. But thanks to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, huge progress is being made to increase life expectancy and quality of life. We will continue to pray for a cure to end this devastating disease.

This year, it is my honor to run the Chicago Marathon in memory of Madalyn, and I’m thrilled to fundraise for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Below is the link to donate to Team MADDY’S JOY. You are also more than welcome to join my team and come run it with me!

Her life is a reminder for us all to JUST BREATHE and never take it for granted. Psalm 116:3

Thank you, friends, for teaming up with me and fighting for a cure. 💙