DNA

To me, the theme "One Disease, Many Stories" represents the incredible diversity among the CF community. Before I became involved in the CFF, I assumed my path towards a diagnosis was unusual --- I didn't get tested for CF until I was 18 years old, after being misdiagnosed with asthma throughout my childhood. When I attended my first BreatheCon last year, I realized there really was no such thing as an unusual in the CF community. With a disease that comes in as many different forms as the people who have it, I think it's so crucial that our community is given a space to come together, share stories, connect over shared experiences and celebrate our differences.

Purple Rose

For my artwork for “One Disease, Many Stories”, I chose to draw a book which represents the stories that each person with cystic fibrosis has gone through. The rose in the center represents cystic fibrosis as one disease that we all share, and then the smaller roses, represents how everyone that has CF has the same disease, but we all have different experiences with it, and the rose vines wrapping around the book represent how everyone is tied together in the CF community because we all share the same disease, but we all have slightly different stories. We may all be separated, but CF makes us come together as one.

Crystal Ball

We are all individuals living separate lives, amongst people we love and who love us. But deep inside of those of us with cystic fibrosis, is a deep and unique bond that intertwines us all together. Many of us have understood what our future may hold by being born with the disease, where a large piece of our life was predictable, knowing we would have pains and challenges. This vision of our life is like a crystal ball, where we had a common understanding of what is to exist with cystic fibrosis. But within that commonality, we have very rich different experiences, varying in ages, relationships, and adventures. Despite us living as individuals, we are forever bonded by the purple roses that have provided us with perspective, understanding, and strength.

Technology

Storytelling is the strongest form of advocacy, and luckily, there are many ways to tell a story. In this drawing, you’ll see a pink pair of lungs, a tribute to my transplantation. Within the lungs, you’ll find the myriad of platforms on which I’ve told my story. When I was 10, I shared my get well cards with a class of respiratory students. I told them about my most recent tune up, and reminded them that I’m more than just my lungs. Writing was my first escape from reality, and in retrospect, a haunting collection of my emotions. I produced a musical about my disease alongside my fibros. Sharing these works triggered a domino effect of awareness. My cyster and I took a photograph and two passerbyers asked why we were standing six feet apart. Now that couple tells our story to any congressperson who will listen. Social media allows an isolated patient to befriend others without risking exposure. I love to share my friends’ stories, not their germs. All mediums create the pages on which we tell our stories. Those stories will lead to a cure.

Book

We’re all connected by a disease.. but the pages in our story book shed light to so much more. No matter our mutation combo; we are classified into brackets. Class 1-5.. from splicing to gating mutations.. from mild to severe manifestations. With that said.. our lives are all drastically different and amazing. Whether you feel like you’re dominating life.. or are struggling with hard health news.. We are defying the odds stacked against us by past science. We are achieving big or small dreams we only fantasized about. We all have something unique about us & our journey that gives a picture to the scientific terminology that binds us together. We are teachers & graduates.. friends & parents.. chefs & dancers. We are planning for our futures and also appreciating the good times we are able to achieve, even if only a tiny glimmer in our day. Our stories make who we are that much more magical. This conference is for that - No matter the place in life that you’re at. I hope this overview of my vision speaks to you like it did me. We are so much more than a disease.

Stars

CF has taught me to not just pay attention to my story, but to others as well. Though the pages in our book might be different, though the covers may vary, and the words in different languages, we all have one chapter we all share.We all have a different story to tell, but we all unnerstand it like nobody else can. I'm grateful we can share them. My piece depicts us as stars, all holding books of different marks and sizes. All dancing on the same DNA strand, happy to relate, happy to listen, and most importantly, happy to live.