Life as parents of a baby with cystic fibrosis is a journey we never expected, but one that has reshaped our hearts in ways we couldn't have imagined.

When Emersyn was diagnosed with CF, the world felt heavy with fear and uncertainty. As parents, all you want is to protect your child-to keep them healthy, safe, and happy-but CF reminds you quickly that so much is out of your control. Every cough, every appointment, every unknown can feel overwhelming.

During pregnancy, Emersyn received Trikafta in utero. One of the earliest signs of CF we faced was echogenic bowel, which can indicate a bowel blockage at birth. Because of the medication, that echogenicity resolved before she was born-something that felt like our first glimpse of hope and the incredible power of early intervention.

After she was born, that hope continued. While I was taking Trikafta, Emersyn received its benefits through my breast milk. During that time, she remained healthy and strong-something that felt nothing short of miraculous. As she grew, however, it became clear that she was no longer receiving enough of the medication through breast milk alone, and we made the difficult decision to stop.

Even after stopping Trikafta, she has continued to do well, a blessing we don't take lightly. Now we wait for the next chapter-waiting for her to be old enough to begin a new modulator called Orkambi. Watching her grow, thrive, and meet milestones without the complications we so often fear in CF fills us with gratitude and reinforces how far science, research, and advocacy have come.

Being CF parents means living in two worlds at once: deep gratitude for today and constant vigilance for tomorrow. It means celebrating every healthy moment while standing united in the fight for better treatments, better access, and ultimately a cure. Our daughter is our why. Her strength-even as a baby-drives us to walk, advocate, and share our story for the entire CF community.

This is our story-one of resilience, partnership, hope, and unwavering love-and a reminder that every step forward truly matters.