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Living With Cystic Fibrosis

136 episodes - English - Latest episode: 20 days ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratings

Living with cystic fibrosis: the challenges and triumphs along the way. Live-Breathe-Inspire

Medicine Health & Fitness Government cystic fibrosis cf. bonnell foundarion chronic illness positivity personal stories self help advocacy cf community cf modulators cftr
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Episodes

Remembering Matt McCloskey of Take a Breather

June 24, 2024 04:00 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MB

Shortly after we did this podcast Matt died from complications of cystic fibrosis.  With permission from his sisters, and dear friend Jennifer Bleecher (featured in this podcast) we are now airing this podcast to shine a light about what a great man Matt was. He speaks in this podcast about concern for his health.  Thanks to Jenn, his family and to Matt for all he gave to the world and especially the CF community. You are missed and will never be forgotten. From his sisters Molly McBryan an...

The Fearless Vagina: Ellen Dolgen

June 17, 2024 04:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MB

As people with cystic fibrosis live longer, with a life expectancy currently at about 56 years old, many women with CF will be going through menopause.  I recently spoke to doctors at a hospital gathering, and recommended they speak to women with CF about menopause. They agreed. It's time.  There is so little discussion and education about women and menopause in general. I recently listened to a podcast by Mel Robbins about menopause, and then saw menopause activist Ellen Dolgen on CBS News...

Dr. Caleb Bupp, Rare Genius (in our opinion)

June 10, 2024 04:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MB

Dr. Caleb Bupp. In my opinion. A scientific star.  He is a most humble human, but has every right to brag, but he never would. I do believe he's a genius.  You will love this podcast.  We talk about rare disease, his family and how he discovered and helped families who had no rare disease answers, until they met him! An absolute scientific rock star.  I met Dr. Bupp at a MichiBio event that introduced legislators, advocates and doctors to one another.  One of the best events I have attended ...

Cambrey Vasconez White - rare mutations

June 03, 2024 04:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MB

Cambrey Vasconez White is the mother of toddler Rowland, who has Cystic Fibrosis. If you listened to our podcast with Vicky Maldonado, they have similar  struggles.  Cambrey is also working to find an equitable approach to rare mutations in the U.S. and Canada.  These two women connected, as you’ll hear, because their sons share the same mutation. Rowland received  access to a CF modulator after a battle with her insurance company.  Her son’s mutation is not on the FDA approved list for Tri...

Brandi Berry, Chidlren's Special Health Care Services Prgrm

May 27, 2024 04:00 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MB

Did you know most states have programs for CF families, and they don’t have to do with your income? Michigan has one of the best programs in the Country. It’s called Children’s Special Healthcare and acts as a secondary insurance to pediatric and adult patients. Brandi Berry tells us all about it. Brandi Berry, LLMSW is the Program Coordinator of the Kent County Children’s Special Health Care Services Program, Fetal Infant Mortality Review and the Healing Through Grieving: Pregnancy, Infant...

Dr. Bhanu Jena, another CF modulator on the horizon?

May 20, 2024 04:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

A new CF modulator could be on the horizon. Professor Dr. Bhanu Jena is exciting to tell us all about it.  Dr. Jena was born in a small town in Odisha, India. He got his love for science and medicine from his father and grandfather. He majored in Chemistry, Zoology, and Botany at BJB College in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India,  He got his masters in zoology. He received the Peasant Ku. Memorial Prize and the Utkal University Gold Medal. He also got his doctorate in zoology (Molecular Endocrinolo...

The Final 10 percent

May 13, 2024 04:00 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MB

Approximately 10 percent of the CF population is waiting for a CF modulator drug that will help them by correcting the underlying condition of their disease.  Current modulator drugs help more common CF mutations.  Emily Kramer Golinkoff is one of the people who doesn't have a CF modulator that will help her. Her Foundation, Emily's Entourage, is a leader in research. They are focusing on people with CF who have the nonsense mutation. On Emily's team is Dr. Chandra Ghose, who is the Chief S...

Dr. Mitch Drum - CF Pioneer

May 06, 2024 04:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

Living legends. One of them is Dr. Mitch Drumm. He was part of the team with Dr. Francis Collins who discovered the gene that cause CF. They were all at the University of Michigan. You’ll hear the connection Laura and Mitch have, and they didn’t know it until this podcast! Dr. Drumm is a living CF hero. Dr. Drumm earned his doctoral degree while in a lab with Dr. Francis Collins, the former director of the NIH and at that time, in 1989 the pair co-discovered the gene that causes CF. The di...

Dr. Mitch Drumm - CF Pioneer (and hero to CF community)

May 06, 2024 04:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MB

Living legends. One of them is Dr. Mitch Drumm. He was part of the team with Dr. Francis Collins who discovered the gene that cause CF. They were all at the University of Michigan. You’ll hear the connection Laura and Mitch have, and they didn’t know it until this podcast! Dr. Drumm is a living CF hero. Dr. Drumm earned his doctoral degree while in a lab with Dr. Francis Collins, the former director of the NIH and at that time, in 1989 the pair co-discovered the gene that causes CF. The di...

Dr Ryan Hadley - Lung Transplants

April 29, 2024 04:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MB

Do you know what is needed before you have a lung transplant?  Or even how it works?  More and more adult CF clinics are explaining the details to adult patients, but if you're a CF parent, there is a lot you may not know.  We welcome Dr. Ryan Hadley. Dr. Hadley is at Corewell health in Grand Rapids. He is an assistant Profession of Medicine in pulmonary and Critical care. He is a published author and researcher some of his academic appointments include Core Faculty with Pulmonary Critical ...

Laura and Beth talk about what makes a Foundation work!

April 22, 2024 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MB

Everyone always asks me "What does it take to run a Foundation?"  So I thought I would explain some of the different aspects of funny and challenging parts of running a Foundation. Please join me with my friend Beth Vanstone who asks me all sorts of questions about what running a Foundation is all about! Please follow us on social media! Please consider making a donation: https://thebonnellfoundation.org/donate/ The Bonnell Foundation website: https://thebonnellfoundation.org Bonnell Fo...

Rabbi Moskowitz, embracing the Queer community

April 15, 2024 13:07 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MB

He’s been arrested. He’s CIS gender with a wife and kids. Rabbi Mike Moskowitz is also an orthodox Jew’is and he is one of the biggest supporters of the queer community. Rabbi Moskowitz is the Scholar-in-Residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, the world’s largest LGBT synagogue.  He is a deeply traditional and radically progressive advocate for trans rights and a vocal ally for LGBTQ inclusivity.  Rabbi Moskowitz received three Ultra-Orthodox ordina...

CF in Brazil, and one outstanding advocate

April 08, 2024 04:00 - 57 minutes - 52.8 MB

We’re going to Brazil for this podcast. Brazil is famous for some soccer players; you remember Pele and others. It’s the largest country in South America, it has 4 times zones…60 percent of the amazon rainforest is in Brazil, their flag has 27 stars on it and they speak Portuguese there.  And the food looks amazing there. I have never been to Brazil, but Gabriel Johnson was born and raised there!  Gabriel is the Projects and Institutional Relations Coordinator at Unidos pela Vida - Brazili...

Gut pain and CF, Dr. Jorge Machicado

April 01, 2024 04:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MB

So many people with cystic fibrosis have gut pain. It is often times, debilitating. Dr. Matthew DiMagno and Dr. Jorge Machicado are working to find answers to the suffering of people with CF, and others without. Dr. Machicado is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Michigan.  Dr. Machicado earned his medical degree from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, and received a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkin...

Win Like A Girl - Maureen Electa Monte

March 25, 2024 04:00 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MB

Maureen Electa Monte and I go ... way back! When she was an engineer, and doing photography, she photographed our first Portraits of cystic fibrosis black and white calendar in 2003. The wives of the Detroit Tigers, pretty much all of them pregnant, played in our first celebrity softball game. They played against law enforcement at a ballpark in Sterling Heights.  Years ago when she was working at IBM she was the Engineer of the Year, she was a multi-sport athlete and MVP of her basketball ...

Mindfullness and CF with Aliyah Novellie

March 18, 2024 04:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

  Aliyah Novelli was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as an infant.  Today, she's paying it forward as a social worker at Jefferson Adult CF center in Philadelphia.  Aliyah is full of enthusiasm about her new program: mindfulness. The CF Foundation awarded her with a CF Impact grant to get it started. Aliyah launched her mindfulness program this year. It's for a program for adults 18 to 35 years old on CF modulators. Aliyah earned her master's degree in social work at the University of Penns...

Mindfullness and CF with Aliyah Novelli

March 18, 2024 04:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MB

Aliyah Novelli was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as an infant.  Today, she's a licensed social worker practicing as a child and family therapist at The Center for Change and Growth in Ardmore, PA.   Aliyah is full of enthusiasm about her new program: mindfulness. The CF Foundation awarded her with a CF Impact grant to get it started. Aliyah launched her mindfulness program this year. It's for a program for adults 18 to 35 years old on CF modulators. Aliyah earned her master's degree in soc...

CF Mom Vicky Maldonado talks Ultra Rare CF mutations

March 11, 2024 04:00 - 38 minutes - 35 MB

Canadian, Vicky Maldonado is the mother of a young boy living with a rare genetic form of CF. Sebastian is 6 years old, and a twin. The road to diagnosis was challenging. Sebastian was diagnosed with two rare CF genes after repeated respiratory infections and two hospitalizations. “We were told that Sebastian likely didn’t have CF because he’s “not White”— his parents are Canadian-born Latinos from Ecuador. Though CF affects all races and ethnicities, there’s still a common misconception amo...

All of Us - Science, Innovation and YOU.

March 04, 2024 05:00 - 39 minutes - 36 MB

A better future for health for: All of Us! Dr. Josh Denny is the All of Us Research program, CEO. A program that comes from the National Institute of Health.  The Bonnell Foundation is all about Science and Innovation! And he has a CF connect via his father! The goal of All of Us is to enroll 1 million people to build one of the most diverse health databases in history. This would allow resources to accelerate precision medicine for all populations.  This is critical to the future of our p...

CF Trust, U.K. with Belinda Cupid

February 26, 2024 05:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MB

(Please follow us wherever you get your podcasts, rate us and/or comment. Thank you) Part of the Bonnell mission, while doing these podcasts, is to raise awareness and shine the light on other Foundations who are also doing great things.  Today we’re going to tell you about the CF Trust in the United Kingdom. Belinda Cupid is the Senior Impact Adviser at Cystic Fibrosis Trust. For the past six years she has been a member of the research team at Cystic Fibrosis Trust, their work is making a...

Healthwell again open to CF patients

February 19, 2024 05:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MB

This is our third podcast with Alan Klein, the Chief Development Officer Healthwell. As a reminder Healthwell was paying about $25 million each year for CF co-pays in therapeutics. But because of the lack of funding from their corporate sponsors they stopped helping existing patients and couldn’t help new applicatns with their CF bills. Healthwell closed their CF Treatment Fund to new and re-enrolling patients in 2023 with no word or idea when they would start up again. There was a lot of fe...

The extraordinary, Nick Kelly.

February 12, 2024 05:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MB

(Please consider subscribing to our podcast and rating it. It helps us with promotion. Thank you) What a treat for all of us today.  Nicholas Kelly is in the house. I've wanted him on our podcast for a while.   Nick was diagnosed with CF when he was 3 months old. Nick has so many accomplishments.  He earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Bowling Green State University. Nick is a dietitian.  But that is not all, he is an author, dancer, and a speaker. Once you start watching his vi...

Karen McEwan and Laura bond over chronic illness

February 05, 2024 11:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MB

Karen McEwan’s daughter, Elana, is 20 years old.  It’s been a complex journey from birth to today. Elana suffers from a rare, incurable disease called Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD).  This is the first podcast that is not about cystic fibrosis specifically, although you will see the connection. It’s about chronic illness and Mom’s connecting and parents doing all they can for their children. We go through the same anxiety, fear, frustrations, you name it, we can relate.  Karen also has a ...

Two Salty Okes, Rena Barrow's story

January 29, 2024 05:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MB

Rena Barrow has two kids with CF, Jarrod is 22 and Jahsir is 3 years old. Over the years she’s witnessed a discrepancy in care for people of color.  Even after her 22 year old son was diagnosed, doctors weren't sure her newborn baby had CF, They told her, "Maybe it was sickle cell."  She fought until her son Jahsir was properly diagnosed. The delay in diagnosis took a toll on her little guy.  When he ate he was always in pain (not prescribed enzymes until diagnosis) so now he has an aversion...

Dr. Susanna McColley talks health equity

January 22, 2024 13:54 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MB

I am excited that all of you will get to meet  Dr. Susanna McColley!!!!  I was so impressed with her commitment to CF and her incredible medical and life knowledge.  Dr. McColley works to promote equitable diagnosis and treatment in cystic fibrosis. As a white person, Dr. McColley talks about all that white privilege brings, and what we must remember along the way. "Privilege allows you to go through the world without additional scrutiny". She goes on to say, people who differ, who are not w...

CF Woman climbs Kilimanjaro (Caroline Heffernan)

January 15, 2024 05:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MB

Caroline Heffernan talks to CF families about all sorts of things, employment, family support, housing issues, cross infection, fertility…you name it.  Caroline talks all things CF.  As someone with CF she knows what she’s talking about.  She’ll even discuss End of Life with CF families. Caroline volunteers for CF Ireland. Caroline,  is 53 years old, and pushes the power of exercise. She’s a cycler, she’s ran a marathon on 2008, did the Barcelona Ironman in 2018, and in July of this year c...

Queen Kwong, AKA Carre Callaway -rock n roll and CF

January 08, 2024 05:00 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MB

Carre Callaway (Queen Kwong) tours in the U.S., U.K. and wherever her music takes her.  Carre ended her tour and was in Los Angeles when we talked with her on this podcast.  She talks about how music was a coping mechanism for her chaotic life.  When Carre was 17 years old, a chance meeting with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, turned her life around. Carre and I met after she was newly diagnosed with CF when she was 30 years old (being a white American and of Chinese descent her doctors did...

Dr. John Schuen, life at the Grand Rapids CF clinic

November 27, 2023 05:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MB

Please consider subscribing, rating and commenting on our podcast (Spotify). But you can hear our podcasts anywhere. Dr. John Schuen is the division Chief of Pediatric Aerodigestive Specialties at Helen DeVos Children’s hospital in Grand Rapids.  He is also the director of the CF care center.  We’re talking to Dr. Schuen to discuss all that they have going on for CF patients in Grand Rapids. And why he decided to become a CF doctor. You are a specialist in so many areas, in addition to CF,...

Bernie Martin - CF Mum in Ireland

November 20, 2023 05:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MB

Bernie Martin is a Writer, Creative Consultant and, most importantly, Mother of a CF Fighter. After 15 years working as a Copywriter and Creative Director in some of Ireland’s top advertising agencies, she started her own consultancy called The Salty Pen in 2018. This move was born out of a desire to have more flexibility around caring for her little lady with CF, who she describes as her muse, her strength, her drive, her everything!  Bernie has written about the challenges facing CF famil...

Newborn Screening, will you be diagnosed with CF?

November 13, 2023 05:00 - 43 minutes - 40 MB

Newborn Screening, do you know what it is, do you everything about it?  Did you know that people of color are less likely to be diagnosed by newborn screen because in most cases, states test for common mutations, or white mutations.  Newborn Screening is a public health program. This is when a dried blood spot is taken from your babies’ heel.  NBS is recognized as one of the largest and most successful disease prevention and detection programs in the U.S. it began in 1962 and CF was added i...

The fate of Healthwell, what is their future?

November 06, 2023 05:00 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MB

Please consider subscribing and rating our podcast. It helps us to promote. Thank you. This is a follow-up podcast about the Healthwell Foundation. Thanks again to Alan Klein, the Chief Development Officer for answering all of our questions and being transparent. They help 90 different disease groups with funding (whatever is not covered by insurance).  The Bonnell Foundation will refer people to Healthwell when the financial need is greater than we can give, or because we don’t cover a ce...

CF in Israel, during a war...

October 30, 2023 04:00 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MB

(Please consider subscribing and rating our podcast. It helps us to promote. Thank you.) Israel is at war. The emotional toll on families in Israel and Palestine is unimaginable. Israeli, 43 year old Nirit Maizel is trying to live her life as best she can while her country fights against Hamas.  She has cystic fibrosis, it's harder now to get medications and live any sort of a normal life.  Nirit lives in Ramat Hasharon (10 minutes from Tel Aviv) with her husband Aviad and their three chil...

Rory Tallon, Dating someone who also has CF.

October 23, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MB

51 year old Rory Tallon works with Cystic Fibrosis Ireland as a CF Patient Advocate as part of CFI’s member service team.  Rory has CF and was recently featured in our Living with cystic fibrosis podcast volunteering  for CF Ireland. In this podcast he’s talking about dating someone with CF.   It happens more than people may know and he tells us why as he explains his relationship with former girlfriend, Jean, and losing her to the disease. Rory is married to Sarah and they have two daught...

Dr. Jennifer Taylor Cousar - our CF super hero doctor

October 16, 2023 04:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MB

Please subscribe, comment and rate our podcast on Spotify. (You can listen on any platform). Dr. Jennifer Taylor-Cousar is an amazing woman I can’t wait to meet in person one day.  She is a Board Certified Pediatric and adult pulmonologist at National Jewish Health in Colorado. She’s a rock star in the world of CF, and she’s doing incredible work raising awareness about systemic and individual bias and racism in medicine. She also talks about the importance of representation in the field of...

Entrepreneur Emily Lyons success in the midst of tragedy

October 09, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MB

Emily Lyons is not yet 40 years old (she's 37 years old) and is a multimillionaire. But her life has not been easy.  Her story is incredible, she's actually writing a book about it.  She dropped out of high school at 16 years old, worked as a nanny for a bit in Australia, modeled and now, well, she’s a multimillionaire running four companies. She was recently featured in Forbes magazine for her Femme Fatale staffing and marketing business. She will tell us about all four of her companies.  S...

Entrepreneur Marten DeVlieger.

October 02, 2023 04:00 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MB

Please subscribe, rate our podcast and comment. thank you. Marten De Vlieger do you know what he did or who he is?  I am excited to let you know. He is an adventure and sports athlete. He’s 41 years old with CF. Marin worked with HillRom, which is now Baxter, to make the Monarch Airway Clearance System. He worked on it for 10 years.  He still works with Baxter doing social media and some public speaking.  So we’re glad to have him on our podcast.  He is also a spokesperson for Polaris. His...

Rory Tallon, CF Ireland

September 25, 2023 04:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MB

Please consider subscribing, rating and commenting on our podcast (Spotify). But you can hear our podcasts anywhere. We’re traveling 9 hours by plane for this podcast to the lush green grass of Dublin, Ireland. You may want to pour yourself a Guiness for this podcast if you’re listening at home. If you’re walking while listening then just picture yourself surrounded by the pubs in Dublin or out in the country with flower shops and open land.  A beautiful place indeed.  This is where we find...

CF Warrior Asia Diaz. Late diagnosis. Delivers baby while suffering pneumonia.

September 18, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 23.8 MB

Asia Diaz is 27 years old and has CF. As an African American woman she was one of the many people diagnosis late in her life because some physicians believe incorrectly, that CF is a genetic disease that mainly impacts the white race.  For this reason Asia was diagnosis late in life. She tells her story of life long symptoms.  Her late diagnosis leaves her exhausted and sick. Asia wanted to have children with her husband,  Danny.  Even after she was diagnosed her doctor still did not refe...

Life without Trikafta, Will Corcoran (and Mom, "Bean")

September 11, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MB

Bean Corcoran, and Will Corcoran.  Mother and son. I met Bean Corcoran when we were doing a science and innovation campaign, and we became friends!  I learned a little bit about her son Will, who has CF.  Bean is very involved in the CF community.  She is the President of the CFF Connecticut Chapter and the Bridge of Hope Communications Director volunteer.  We did a podcast in the past about the Bridge of Hope and what they do, so feel free to go back and listen to that if you want to find ...

Night of Hope Keynote speaker, Jerry Cahill

September 05, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MB

If you want to meet Jerry in person, I encourage you to attend our Night of Hope Gala on September 9th.  You’ll be able to talk with Jerry about anything that is on your heart.  You’ll be so inspired, like I am every single time I see him or talk with him.  If you’re not able to attend, you’ll still thoroughly enjoy this podcast as Jerry opens up about his long CF journey!  Sixty-six years and counting!  Jerry takes us through the “CF Dark Ages” as he calls it, to the present.  What a journe...

Durhane Wong-Reiger, expert on access in low income Countries

August 28, 2023 04:00 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MB

Dr. Durhane Wong-Rieger is the President and CEO for the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders. She is involved and Chair to many committees and organizations. She is also an author, lecturer and trainer. She is the perfect person to talk with about making healthcare a level playing field for all.  As you know we have interviewed so many people on this podcast talking about the challenges in different countries to medications. In Egypt the Ministry of health doesn’t recognize the disease,...

Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) with Rep. Jason Morgan and Dr. Stephen Rapundalo

August 21, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

The Rare Disease Advisory Council, (RDAC) has passed in at least 25 states so far.  This is a bi-partisan effort to give voice to people and their families who are living with a rare disease.  We're talking about 7 thousand plus rare diseases, which include cystic fibrosis. The RDAC would be housed in Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.  The Bonnell Foundation, along with MichBio, National Organization of Rare Disorders, RDII and a coalition of rare disease advocates (in Michi...

HealthWell Foundation - going out of the CF business?

August 14, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MB

Healthwell is a foundation that helps people pay bills that impact 90 different disease groups. They cover what insurance does not.  The Bonnell Foundation will refer people to Healthwell when the financial need is greater than we can give, or if we don’t cover a certain request for funds.   Approximately 40 to 45 percent of the CF community is helped by Healthwell. Healthwell pays $25 million each year for CF co-pays in therapeutic drugs. This could all change. There is a  lack of funding ...

Deliverer of CF Hope, Bob Emmelkamp

August 07, 2023 04:00 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MB

You will want to learn more about Bob Emmelkamp after this podcast, I promise! I feel like Bob is everywhere and supportive of everyone. Without a DNA connection to cystic fibrosis, Bob Emmelkamp became a lifelong CF fund-raising volunteer in 1976, when he helped put on a high school dance marathon where proceeds benefited the CFF. Since then, he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to advance research for a cure for CF, spreading the word and explaining the latest CF research news,...

Author, Melodie Ramone

July 31, 2023 04:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MB

Melodie Ramone and I met on Twitter, before the pandemic. Melodie was supporting all my posts and I wondered why, did she have a CF connection?  She was, as it turns out, supportive of the CF community, but had no direct connection. The people with CF and their caregivers always had a place in her heart. Now she's written a book, Falls The Breath that has a character who has CF. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Bonnell Foundation. First published in literary magazines at the age of...

Romance and CF

July 17, 2023 04:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MB

Who will want to take on a person with CF?  That is the question many women born with the disease think about after high school. Megan Bauer thought about it a lot. Until she met Alec.  At 26 years old  the University of Michigan graduate is happily in love. But until she found her prince, she found a lot of men who couldn't handle dating a person with CF. Megan met Alec when she was 19 years old at the University of Michigan, and they have been together for 7 years. They are planning thei...

The Crossing for CF: On Location (West Palm Beach, Fla.)

July 10, 2023 04:00 - 49 minutes - 45.7 MB

The CF community is a small one. It’s made up of 40,000 people with the disease in the U.S.  When you add two parents to the mix that’s 80,000 parents, then there are grandparents, siblings, Aunt and Uncles, friends and you get the picture. We have a small, tight knit community. Laura Bonnell thought it was important that the Bonnell Foundation reach out to volunteer for the Pipers Angels Crossing for CF event.  It was the weekend of June 23rd, 2023.  It’s so important that we support one a...

Clement and Travis - a love story about caregiving

July 05, 2023 04:00 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MB

This is a love story about two people passionate about entertainment, writing and each other. In 2016 Clement ‘Clem’ Souyri, moved from Versaille, France to the United States. Clem is a lawyer who specializes in entertainment law. His career path landed him in the orbit of Travis Flores. Travis is a screenwriter and children's book author, and he has Cystic fibrosis. Travis is living because of his third double-lung transplant. Travis and Clem have been together for more than 6 years and ar...

Lisa Bentley - A Canadian powerhouse athlete

June 26, 2023 04:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MB

54 years ago when Canadian, Lisa Bentley was born, enzymes weren't even in pill form. Diagnosed at age 20, Lisa was already in the midst of figuring out her life as a teacher and later, a world famous triathlete. She had 11 IRONMAN victories on several continents with at least one IRONMAN victory each year from 2000 to 2007. She is an author, coach, wife, and trainer. She talks about how mental strength and positive talk are everything, and it's important to remember who you are and why you'...

Piper's Angels - A Dad and daughter love story

June 19, 2023 04:00 - 49 minutes - 45 MB

CF in the family. ​Making it your life's purpose. Then The Crossing for cystic fibrosis, from the Bahamas to Florida was born.  ​Travis' parents didn't know they had three children with CF.  When Travis's daughter Piper was always sick, CF didn't occur to him.    Then his sister LeeAnn was diagnosed with CF at age 40. ​Then another sister. And that's when Travis decided to have Piper tested, and then himself.  His story is almostunbelievable.  ​You will find his journey inspiring, and on...

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