Real 65 : Dreaming Pink and Blue

Real 65 is a segment of Breathe 3-65 that is dedicated to entries and interviews sharing honest and personal experiences of living with, treating, and loving someone with Cystic Fibrosis. 
It is a place for all those impacted to share their stories

At the root of every life are dreams unique to the person who holds them. Much of our lives may follow a similar path but the details that compose them are what make the journey truly unique to its dreamer. But sometimes those dreams are littered with obstacles beyond our control. It's a true privilege to share Trini's story with you today. Most of all, however, it's a privilege to share her dreams with you and how she has not allowed her a life, which could possibly be seen by others as one filled with undeniable obstacles - one being cystic fibrosis. 

"I feel like every decision I have made in my life has prepared me for my diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis. Obviously I didn’t know that I had this disease for the first 29 years of my life, but I feel like I was prompted to make the decisions that I have to keep myself healthy.

At a young age I was introduced to the world of sickness, but it wasn’t me that was sick. My older sister had “asthma” and was in and out of the hospital with breathing problems. She was on multiple medications and she also was on breathing treatments. I was familiar with the hospital, breathing treatments and antibiotics. When she was 29 years old she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.

I was a really lucky kid and I hardly got sick. When I was 13 I started getting sinus infections frequently and ended up getting sinus surgery due to the buildup of mucus in my sinus cavities. When I was 14 I had my right fallopian tube removed due to a paratubal cyst; who knows if that was related to my unknown cystic fibrosis. I started swim team in 8th grade and continued to swim all through high school, as I look back now this was the best exercise I could have been doing for my lungs and my sinuses. I was diagnosed at the age of 16 with “exercise induced asthma” because I was constantly coughing up junk during swim practice and swim meets. In my early 20’s I don’t remember getting sick very often except for my struggle with fertility. I had labs drawn, a Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), went on fertility medications, had a second tubal surgery, and finally went to a fertility clinic to start the In-vitro fertilization (IVF) process.

I have always wanted to be a mother, it has been my goal in life, and I have dreamed about having a big family. I was very lucky and got pregnant on my first IVF cycle, with twins nonetheless. My husband and I were so excited. When I started to relax about my pregnancy I started to have complications. I started contracting at 19 weeks, then we lost our little Corbin at 24 weeks. We were devastated. We continued to have complications with bleeding, and more contracting and then at my 29 week appointment our living son's heart rate had dropped way below normal. I was checked in to the hospital and then ended up delivering our son 12 weeks early with an emergency cesarean section. 2 years later we tried getting pregnant again through IVF and got pregnant but miscarried 8 weeks later. After this miscarriage I didn’t want to try to get pregnant again  without getting everything checked out. We found a great high risk pregnancy center and went in for genetic counseling. My older sister had just been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis 2 years before and they decided to screen me for the same genetic markers that she had. August 19th 2015 I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. I would say that starting from the years we were  trying to conceive until this diagnosis were some of the most emotional years of my life. With fertility treatments, miscarriages, burying a child, doctors appointments and then being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis; it has surely been an emotional rollercoaster.

Last summer we were approached by my beautiful sister in law, she offered to get implanted and carry our child. I didn’t want to give up on my body and we decided we would implant one embryo in my sister in law and one in me. We are both 26 weeks pregnant and are so excited to complete this journey. I am working closely with my OB, high risk doctors, and my CF team to make sure that the baby and I stay healthy and complete the pregnancy with a healthy baby. Now, my pregnancy hasn’t been the easiest; I bled through the first 18 weeks, started contracting at 20 weeks, and I am on multiple medications. The important thing to remember is that you can’t change what you're given in life but you can control how you look at the challenges you are given. Don’t give up. If there is something in your life that you want, there is a way to get it, or accomplish it. Just because you have Cystic Fibrosis that doesn’t mean anything. Focus on what you can change and what you can do to make life easier, keep yourself healthy and get what you want!

Keep Dreaming! "
 

 - About Today's Contributor - 

Trini is a passionate mom, nurse, writer, and relentless dreamer. To follow her journey of dreaming and becoming a mom go to her blog, Dreaming Pink and Blue.