Life is a Special Occasion

Source: CF Roundtable

I just saw that on a Hallmark bag. And given the fact I just turned 41, I would have to agree. I don’t know about all of you but I grew up knowing people with CF die and they tend to die young. My brother who was 10, died when I was 5. So to be here now is pretty darn cool!

For a long time I would just be surprised when I reached another birthday milestone or life event, like high school graduation and getting married. Because, I simply never thought I would make it to those milestones. Not that I was *REAL* sick growing up but I certainly had years where I struggled. I started culturing cepacia and I needed a feeding tube.

Yet, here I am.

Now I am a pre-transplant patient and my pft’s hover around the 30% mark, but I am here. And I am doing well. I still need 3-5 liters of o2 24/7, I use a bi-pap machine at night, plus all the other pills and treatments but I haven’t needed IV antibiotics for 11 months! (I am still not sure how all those facts can coexist!)

Given all that and given the fact that I have no idea what life will bring as far as transplant and the years that will follow, I am pretty good at celebrating the here and now and being thankful for each day. That’s why I like the phrase from the Hallmark bag so much. That could be one of my life’s mottos.

I did have fun celebrating this birthday. It wasn’t quite the extravaganza that I had for 40 (you should have seen that!), but it was perfect for 41. And I know I will celebrate 42 in style as well. I will also celebrate Wednesday November 9 just because. I will celebrate the one day a year when we miraculously have no dirty clothes (yes, it is only once a year!). I will celebrate when gas goes below $3.50. I will celebrate when I find $5 in an old pair of jeans. They are all special occasions.

What are YOU going to celebrate?