12/20/2021
This holiday season we are doing a “12 Days of Giving” for Just Breathe Foundation. Each day we want to share a part of who we are as a foundation, and we hope each day that someone is inspired to donate. This year has been hard for everyone, and especially for the CF community. In order to help the families that we do on the scale that we do, we rely on the support and generosity from all of you.
justbreathecf.org/donate
Day 11: Amanda Bergeron, a mother with CF, tells us her story
“I just breathe, for me. But most importantly, for my kids. Parker, 9 and Giana, 18. Anyone else would think this sounds kind of dumb, actually putting thought into a process of the body that is seemingly so automatic. Breathing. In and out. All day and night and even when you’re sleeping. To most it goes without a second thought while the business of life and the day overcrowd the mind.
About 4 years ago there was a time, that for me, breathing in and out were the only two thoughts in my head that kept me alive. It took all of my mental and physical effort just to breathe. This was during my struggle to hold out living until I got my lung transplant as I watched my life being stolen from me. With the assistance of the Just breathe Foundation they helped make all of this possible. I had never even heard of the foundation. And one day when I was at a clinic appointment to discuss my upcoming trip to Pittsburgh to be evaluated for transplant I had voiced my concern about the travel costs, gas, food, lodging etc. and the weeklong stay once I got there. And how I was going to be able to have all of this under control in time to leave. I was told about the Just Breathe Foundation And given a brochure and an application form.
What happened next was really a gift from god, in human form. They were able to assist me in providing financial aid not only for my trip, but also lodging, gas and food. Most importantly for me however, was peace of mind. The ability to make the plans and know for certain I would be able to leave home and travel the five hours to Pittsburgh in peace. With the certainty that everything was all under control. And I only had to focus on breathing.
Fast forward four years, now I’m well and healthy and did in fact get the life saving double lung transplant that I needed, but now, the just breathe foundation has become a lifeline. And has assisted me multiple times in securing financial aid for my routine trips back and forth to Pittsburgh for all of my followup care. Now and in future.
I truly appreciate all the kindness and generosity of the people who yearly donate to a cause so worthy, But also SO very important for so many of us who fight daily to keep up the balance of our health and family as well as manage finances and still somehow stay sane though it all. I very deeply appreciate and value all of the people with the foundation, who I’ve come to know as very dedicated friends through all the years. As I know that they all have a more personal connection to all of us as this illness has directly and personally affected each one of them in some way.”
