Our CF Journey — From a Mother, Caregiver, and Provider

I am Adaira’s mother, and this is our cystic fibrosis journey.

Adaira is 15 years old—bright, creative, and a talented artist. She is a freshman in high school who enjoys her friends and her classes, just like any other teenager. From the outside, she often looks healthy. But cystic fibrosis is a disease that affects far more than what you can see—and it has shaped every part of our family’s life.

Cystic Fibrosis impacts Adaira’s lungs, digestion, energy levels, mental health, and future. It dictates her daily schedule, her schooling, her independence, and her ability to simply be “normal.” It also dictates how our family functions day to day.

More than ten years ago, Randy and I were both struggling to keep up with the demands of our jobs while caring for Adaira, and we made the intentional decision that he would stay home to care for her full‑time, placing the responsibility of supporting our family financially on me. Since then, Randy has been Adaira’s constant—managing daily treatments, medications, appointments, hospital stays, school coordination, and the countless unseen moments of care that cystic fibrosis requires. Caring for a child with CF is not something that fits around a traditional workday; it is a full‑time responsibility.

While Randy provides Adaira’s daily hands‑on care, I also carry the responsibility of being our family’s financial provider, advocate, and emotional support. Cystic fibrosis is not only emotionally exhausting—it is financially overwhelming. The cost of medications, medical equipment, insurance gaps, travel for care, missed work, and ongoing treatments adds up quickly.

Earlier this year, Adaira spent two weeks hospitalized for a CF “tune‑up,” an intensive stay to fight infection and protect her lung function. These hospitalizations are physically and emotionally draining and often mean time away from school, friends, and any sense of routine—but they are necessary to keep her healthy.

Adaira has participated in three different cystic fibrosis drug studies, bravely contributing to research that may one day help others. Despite major advances in CF care, there is currently no cure that works for her. Her daily life still requires breathing treatments, chest therapy, enzymes, medications, and constant monitoring.

Because of her health challenges and the mental health struggles that often accompany chronic illness, Adaira completes most of her schoolwork remotely. When she is able, she goes into school for additional help, doing her best to stay connected and experience school like other kids her age. It is a constant balance between protecting her health and allowing her to grow.

This is what living with cystic fibrosis looks like for our family.
It is constant. It is exhausting. And it requires sacrifices—both seen and unseen.

And still, we keep going.

We keep going because Adaira deserves a future.
We keep going because research has already changed what cystic fibrosis looks like today.
And we keep going because families like ours depend on continued progress.

That is why Great Strides means so much to us.

Every donation helps fund research that reduces hospital stays, improves quality of life, and moves us closer to treatments—and cures—for every person with cystic fibrosis. It supports families who have had to restructure their entire lives just to keep their children healthy.

Thank you for supporting Adaira, for supporting our family, and for walking with us until CF stands for Cure Found.

Please donate today to Adaira’s Angels. Your support helps our family keep going and gives Adaira hope for a healthier, more normal future.