Emily’s life is a miracle. Born in 1983, doctors told her parents she wouldn’t live long enough to finish high school. At two years old, she was diagnosed with a life-threatening genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis. This disease affects 30,000 Americans and causes lung infections, respiratory difficulties and digestive problems. Now, at twenty-five years old, Emily has made it through high school and into a productive and fulfilling adulthood.
Emily spent her early childhood years in Miami, Florida, with her parents and younger sister. Being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and forced to take constant care of her health caused her to grow up fast and live life very differently from others her age. By the age of four, Emily was learning all about the daily regimen of managing Cystic Fibrosis and she spent endless hours at doctor’s visits and hospitals. Time for play and school was worked in around breathing treatments, pills, and special diets. However, Emily was raised to live a normal life and to think of herself as fully capable of achieving any goal. She participated regularly on a swim team and other activities. Emily moved to California when she was 10 along with her family. Always, her family supported Emily by helping with her health care while encouraging all her dreams. The goal was always to do whatever was necessary for Emily to live a long life. Preventive care was the key, yet it was not possible to avoid illness. Any exposure to colds or flu might cause Emily to spend weeks in the hospital. .
Despite the doctors’ prediction living beyond eighteen wasn’t likely, she persevered, thanks to diligent care and medical advances. After graduating from high school, she attended Biola University and again graduated in four-years with a B.A. in Communication Disorders and Minor in Biblical Studies
Despite the constant
battle with CF, Emily presses on and lives
every breath in her
life to the fullest. She spends as much time
as she can in the water knowing that each time she surfs she coughs
more out of her lungs
and comes out
breathing deeper
.
In high school, Emily swam on the varsity team, sang in the choir and graduated in 2001 with honors. Despite the doctors’ prediction living beyond eighteen wasn’t likely, she persevered, thanks to diligent care and medical advances. After graduating from high school, she attended Biola University and again graduated in four-years with a B.A. in Communication Disorders and Minor in Biblical Studies. The most remarkable feat was being able to live away from home and stay on campus. At Biola University, Emily studied American Sign Language and then continued on to get her Interpreting Certificate to work with the deaf community. Recently, she was hired at Mt. San Antonio College as a campus interpreter. Not only is this job fun, but it allows her a flexible schedule so she can manage her health by continuing with daily treatments and frequent doctor’s visits.
Life with Cystic Fibrosis is not easy. Emily is constantly thinking about and planning her days around CF and the many logistics that go into it. On a daily basis she does four breathing treatments, each taking about an hour, and takes over 45 pills just for maintenance purposes. Due to the nature of CF, infections build up consistently and a few times a year Emily must have intravenous antibiotic treatment which may require being admitted into the hospital for care. Cystic Fibrosis is a difficult disease, yet Emily sees that there is tremendous hope and much to live for. She knows that God has a purpose for her and she fights on for the future. Emily volunteers at her church with the youth and music programs, and also works with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as a volunteer speaker and advocate for a cure for CF. She volunteers at fundraising events, speaks and makes her story and life as an adult with CF available for other children with CF and their families. She is anticipating a future in which there is a cure for CF.
When Emily is not working, she is surfing! Growing up, her family would visit the beach regularly and Emily would always come back feeling healthy. It wasn’t until 2005 that Emily began learning how to surf and going out with friends in the water. In 2006, doctors in Australia found that kids with CF who were surfing were much healthier than those who weren’t. Through further research they found that salt water was the key component and it helped CF patients to clear out mucus in their lungs easier. With that new research they developed an inhaled saltwater solution for CF patients to use. Because of this research, Emily began surfing and can’t get enough!
Despite the constant battle with CF, Emily presses on and lives every breath in her life to the fullest. She spends as much time as she can in the water knowing that each time she surfs she coughs more out of her lungs and comes out breathing deeper. She knows that living with CF each day is a challenge but despite these challenges there is hope. Much research and new treatments have allowed her to live today, and many more are on the horizon. Someday, a cure will be found and Emily’s dream is to help further the cause of CF in whatever way she can through surfing, speaking, and through many adventures that lie ahead!
