Now 48, Chad was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 3 years old.  When Chad was diagnosed, the doctors told his parents that the average life of a CF patient was 14.  Chad had a normal childhood; he played many sports, was involved in high school clubs, and even spent two summers working outdoors.  In college, Chad met Heidi and fell head over heels in love.  They got married young, Chad was 21 and Heidi was 20.  In 2002, Chad and Heidi welcomed their first child, Carter, into the family.  In 2009, twins, Landon and Millie were born.  In January of 2014, the physicians at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Fairview accepted Chad into the transplant program and in mid-2016 Chad received a life-changing lung transplant. His road to recovery is still on-going and he is thrilled to be speaking at this year’s BreatheCon.