"I try to reassure everyone who has been affected by this disease that CF isn't the end of the world if you don't want it to be."
The experience of living with cystic fibrosis is markedly different today than it was decades ago. Thanks to the discovery of the CF gene, the availability of effective drug therapies and advances in technology, the 30,000 Americans who deal with the disease day in and day out are living longer and fuller lives. In a word, they are thriving.
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Podcast 106: Living with a Chronic Disease

Jennifer Champy was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and Addison’s disease at the age of 28. At 38, the CF diagnosis was reversed.

In 2004, Jennifer graduated from nursing school at the top of her class and worked full-time as an emergency room nurse. Now 39, she lives in South Carolina and is "working disabled." She still has Addison's disease — a chronic endocrine disorder — and through the ups and downs, she is living, breathing and succeeding!

  • Jennifer had a normal childhood but always had some health issues, such as pneumonia, before being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
  • “With your health, it’s all about attitude, you have to stay positive and remember that everyday counts," Jennifer says.
  • Jennifer surrounds herself with “people that love me” during tough times.
  • She enjoys exercising and spending time with her dog.
  • “SKYPE is a great way to maintain friendships when you are sick and in the hospital," Jennifer says.
  • “I am thriving in life, versus surviving," she says.
  • Jennifer’s advice:  "Do not dwell on your illness, get focused, stay positive and reach for the stars."

This “LIVING. BREATHING. SUCCEEDING.” Podcast/Vodcast is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

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