About the design

Cystic fibrosis is an invisible disease. Through creating, baking, and sharing the custom cookies on social media, it has given me an outlet to express myself creatively and spread awareness about CF. The lung and flower designs relate to the phases of breathing challenges that people with CF encounter. The colors chosen represent the CF Foundation and its community.

About the artist

Kelly Marie McHale Talarico is 31 years old and was diagnosed with CF at 6 weeks old. Kelly’s childhood had its challenges while trying to lead a normal life. She graduated from Rowan University in 2015 with a double major in elementary education and math and science. In December 2019, she received a second breath with the gift of a double lung transplant. Six months post-transplant, Kelly returned to her role as a middle school science teacher. She has instructed over 1000 students in her 8 years of teaching and motivates them to embrace each day. 

To show her appreciate for her cystic fibrosis and transplant care team at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Kelly baked and designed sugar cookies with a lung-shaped cookie cutter that she had been gifted from a friend. McHale’s Munchies was born from this gift. Kelly now uses her custom cookies to raise awareness of the CF journey and its perplexities.