"My dream for the future is..."

Of course, like anyone with an illness, I dream for a cure to get rid of my disease, but for now I live with it. My dream for the future is that people with CF would have the advantage of innovative advancements in medicine like I have had. Four years ago, my brother and I were very sick after contracting an undiscovered genus of the drug resistant mycobacterium. Subsequent medical journals said that our case was the first ever reported. Our doctors were perplexed about how to eliminate this bug and spent two years researching a treatment. They called it "trailblazing" because the entire process was experimental. It was a frightening time. Eventually after several attempts they were able to combat it.

During this low point I faced my own mortality, but I emerged from the experience a different person with a new perspective on life. Getting rid of that bug gave me the opportunity to live. I am healthy; I excel at school, play on the school's Varsity tennis team (becoming captain this year), and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. I will be studying astrophysics at college next year. I look forward to my future!

That experience in retrospect has not only given me an unparalleled respect for medical professionals and CF researchers, but it has also given me both breath and hope. I live because of them. Everyone should have a second chance. Dum Spiro, Spero (While I breathe, I hope.)