everyone has a story, here is mine:

I have Cystic Fibrosis, diagnosed at birth by Meconium Ileus (an intestinal blockage requiring surgery). Although considered healthy most of my life (with no lung involvement), I've always dealt with fatigue, digestion complications and sinus issues.

As a child it was thought I was miraculously spared the devasting effects of CF - it was believed I had a mild case of CF, and wouldn't develop the typical complications of a person with Cystic Fibrosis. Respectively, my health was taken for granted, and I wasn't taught the importance of lung maintenance.

So, when I woke up sick one January morning in 2002,
I simply thought I had the flu, and didn't feel the necessity to go the doctor. Two weeks later after no improvement, I found myself in the hospital, on I.V. antibiotics and oxygen for no less than 14 days.

Not until just recently have I come to understand that what I experienced was my first CF exacerbation, which, sadly, caused irreversible lung damage by waiting for treatment.
So much for being "healthy".

Although I tried to return to work, it proved to be too stressful, too demanding, and too exhausting.
So, that October I retired and started my "life with CF".
And here we are today....

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Lessons From Geese (dedicated to George H)

As each bird flaps it’s wings, it creates an “uplift” for the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if the bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the “lifting power” of the bird immediately in front.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks, and sharing leadership. With people, as with geese, we are interdependent on each other

The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. (Cheer them onward).
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, and not something else

When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with the flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong

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