The Living, Breathing Wendy

❀ Walked 25 years for this honor. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #greatstrides2019 #greatstridesmke #addingtomorrows #istride4cf #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #chronicillness #invisibleillness #sixtyfiveroses #justbreathe #cfawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxp7AN1gf3x/?igshid=1couhux1giwzu

❀ I can’t even capture in words how amazing this dog is. He is already reminding me to take my enzymes about 90% of the time. He is the perfect mixture of goofy and laid-back. He is cuddly, playful, and so fun to train with. It’s safe to say I have fallen head-over-heels for this soft, (not so) little fluff ball. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #standardpoodle #felixmendelssohn #cfservicedog #servicedogintraining #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #cfawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/BwnqxziAHXy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ysb8cib2d175

❀ A quick update from my post-op appointment. My ENT said he got a lot of diseased mucus and polyps out of my sinuses during the surgery, and that this was definitely the right move. Everything is healing up great and the recovery has been very smooth. I am so excited to see the benefits once I am fully recovered! :) : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #sinussurgery #sinusitis #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #chronicillness #invisibleillness #lungdisease #sixtyfiveroses #justbreathe #cfawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXMW7sgbZ0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4ezhd4kefyqm

❀ Find the light that helps you shine the brightest. I have felt like dullest of lights lately. Something sparked today. I found myself reflecting on it and took some time to write a piece about it for my column, Path Unknown, on @cfnewstoday. Share an accomplishment you made today! : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #pathunknown #columnist #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #chronicillness #invisibleillness #lungdisease #sixtyfiveroses #justbreathe #cfawareness #writersofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv0f95mnlGn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4iaw8quot7nm

❀ Lights and sounds may grab our attention, but love is what holds us together when we least expect it. After many trips of forgetting my #lovetobreathetoken at home, I thought I had done it again. Only minutes after messaging Somer, I found this little nugget in my wallet. I bet she planted it there somehow. Congratulations to @lovetobreathe on being awarded the Alex Award. No one deserves it more than the one that spreads love around the world. 🥰 : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #wanderlust #travel #alexaward #lasvegas #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #spreadthelove #chronicillness #invisibleillness #lungdisease #sixtyfiveroses #justbreathe #cfawareness (at The Strip) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvp3hytnVfW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=129sxqqppw9vi

❀ human nature drives us to lead fulfilling lives. i have been chasing dreams and ambitions for as long as i can remember. but lately i have been struggling. i have been struggling with the decline in my health and the shift in my priorities... and that’s ok. i have been trying hard to cling to the life i am accustomed to. i have spent the last year with my actions in focus instead of my goals and learning to recognize that cystic fibrosis may be influencing some of the changes in my goals. i want to start by sharing my new goals — be more present in my life, get back to writing regularly, and get more active. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #wanderlust #adventurer #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #invisibleillness #sixtyfiveroses #justbreathe #cfawareness (at Osaka Castle 大阪城) https://www.instagram.com/p/Buj19QHHjzc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=177prertnopzf

❀ I’m crawling out of my little hibernation cave to spread some exciting news! My column on @cfnewstoday will be active again. I just submitted my first piece since just before our honeymoon in Japan where this super fun picture was taken. I hope it’s relatable and that everyone loves it enough to share it around. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #columnist #pathunknown #japan #wanderlust #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #writersofinstagram #chronicillness #invisibleillness #lungdisease #sixtyfiveroses #justbreathe #cfawareness (at Shibuya, Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtmThj3HfMW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1januxopsttow

Love for Lea. Love for our community. Love for all. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #cfawareness #cfcommunity #loveforlea #friendship #curecf #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #sixtyfiveroses #fightcf #webewarrior https://www.instagram.com/p/BrmOMQvnpUJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1eerod5jernxy

My heart has been hurting. I look back at my year and everything that has happened, and I feel free. Then I look at my body and the tragedies our community has endured, and I feel trapped. Cystic fibrosis does not get easier. Losing our loved ones will always hurt. But we are one, and we are strong. Together we are making a difference... and because of that, I keep fighting. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #cfawareness #cfcommunity #friendship #curecf #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #wanderlust #sixtyfiveroses #fightcf #webewarrior https://www.instagram.com/p/BrY10CQH1TV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12ud1y0uo8jja

Our accomplishments can only be as big as our dreams. It has been a dream of mine since I took over as team leader of Wendy’s Walkers, our Great Strides team that my mom first created over 25 years ago, to host a charity ball. Last night was such a success. While I learned a lot during the process of planning and putting this event together, we raised over $600 for the @cf_foundation! I can’t wait to make next year even bigger and better. 💜 : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #roseball #charityball #fundraiser #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #sixtyfiveroses #cfawareness #addingtomorrows #greatstrides #wendyswalkers https://www.instagram.com/p/BrLZSRUnuuj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ms8fhwmk6gfr

Well, that was a whirlwind of a couple of days... but I got this amazing puppy out of it, so I guess you could say it was totally worth it. We bonded instantly and it makes me so excited for our journey together. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #felixmendelssohn #gotchaday #servicedogintraining #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #cfawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/BqIl7SGHP71/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ojzl5xw36umk

Never stop exploring. I found this tako while wandering around Osaka. It made me happy. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #areasontosmile #wanderlust #traveler #adventurer #japan #osaka #tako #takoyaki #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #honeymoon #honeymooninjapan https://www.instagram.com/p/BpNt2gwnsTI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=64xt4qt0ypsg

If we can connect with the people around us, we can better understand how our worlds come together. I was looking back and reflecting on some past memories and old posts. My favorite part of social media is the connection and the documentation of peoples’ journeys. I was filled with joy remembering all the people that have cheered me on through some difficult times in my life, and the friends that I have made because of those connections. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #auntielife #friendship #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #sixtyfiveroses #cfawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/BpIG8tvnibr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1g48wzihpu3mx

There’s give and there’s take. Travel is a huge passion of mine and makes me feel very fulfilled having experienced so much in my short time here on Earth. However, it’s also very hard on my body. I used to go from one things to the next like I had unlimited reserves of energy and life. As my disease progresses, I’m learning that my body can’t quite handle the lifestyle I was once so proud to live. So now I give up jumping straight back into life to take these amazing trips to distant (or sometimes not so distant) lands. Let’s just hope this cold passes quickly with minimal damage! : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #traveler #wanderlust #adventurer #japan #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #chronicillness #invisibleillness #lungdisease #sixtyfiveroses #justbreathe #cfawareness (at 인천공항 Incheon Airport) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo6vDOlA-LZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4xh2twlu6zli

Gotta do what you gotta do. It was definitely a little strange doing my treatment in a yukata. Last night we stayed at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. It was one of the most incredible places and such a humbling experience to be welcomed into such a beautiful tradition. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #wanderlust #ryokan #japan #traveler #adventurer #honeymoon #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba #sixtyfiveroses #cfawareness https://www.instagram.com/p/BojPT1ZAW9u/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nsnqrym0wwi3

If you love something, give it your all. I have always loved food since I can remember. I have vivid memories of learning to cook from my mom, eating fabulous meals while traveling on family vacations, and now traveling around the world to experience different cuisines with my husband. Of all the things and places I’ve eaten, this was my first Michelin star meal. That tire man knows what he’s talkin’ about. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #michelinstar #ramen #foodie #traveler #marriage #adventurer #wanderlust #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba (at Nakiryu) https://www.instagram.com/p/BogHjtQgZQB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fcr5ffxwqoah

Candid titled “my husband won’t pay attention to me”. : #cysticfibrosis #cfirl #livelaughbreathe #marriage #honeymoon #radiatepositivity #positivevibes #dftba https://www.instagram.com/p/Bob_0d7H_4K/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=15v020sv8o8uc