Lauren was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in 2000 shortly after she was born. At the time, what the diagnosis meant for her future was uncertain. Most children living with CF spent a great deal of time in hospitals, often receiving a double lung transplant in their early teenage years. Many with the condition were unable to go to college, work, marry, or have children. However, Lauren refused to accept this as her story. She never questioned her ability to do the same things as anyone else would be able to do, and remained determined to succeed in her studies, career, and life in general.

While medications, respiratory therapy, pulmonary function tests, doctor’s visits became a part of everyday life, Lauren remained quite healthy for the majority of her childhood. It was not until being diagnosed with a non-tuberculose mycobacterium (MAC) in 2013 in addition to CF that she began to spend 3-4 weeks out of the year hospitalized. Lauren’s health gradually improved until taking another major hit in 2018 when she began college. Lauren went from attending school full-time, working part-time, volunteering, traveling, and spending time with friends and family, to again being hospitalized 4-8 weeks out of the year, having to withdraw from school, leave a job she enjoyed, and spend most of her time at home. Lauren kept her faith in God and her faith in the incredible scientific research and advancements of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation that once again, this would not be her future.

In 2019, a medication called Trikafta was approved for those with Lauren’s specific mutation of the CF gene (delta f508). In early 2020, Lauren began her new CF therapy. In the years to come, Lauren’s health improved rapidly. Her lung function improved by nearly 30%, her number of CF exacerbations decreased significantly, and she was rarely hospitalized. Lauren was able to return to school, become an EMT/ER tech and returned to work full-time in a job she loves, and marry the love of her life. In 2023, she became president of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences student organization at CU Denver, served as Student Advisor to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and began volunteering with a local community emergency response team. Lauren now lives in Denver with her husband and their beloved dog, Coffee. She will be graduating this May and will begin grad school at CU Denver in the fall.

In addition to God, CFF, and her CF team: Lauren is forever grateful for her community of family and friends across three countries for their unconditional love and strength; as well as her incredible professors, instructors, and academic advisor who stopped at nothing to ensure her success. 

Lauren would like to thank the Adult Outpatient Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at National Jewish Health, Inpatient Respiratory Institute at St. Joseph Hospital, and the Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis team at Children’s Hospital Colorado for their selfless pursuit of a brighter future for herself and others like her.

Lauren is an example of the successes of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. CFF has enabled people like Lauren with Cystic Fibrosis to make milestones and live longer, healthier lives. They will not stop until CF stands for “Cure Found”.