"Breathing Again" by Pope
Most people never think about breathing.
It just happens.
In, out, all day long.
Something automatic and invisible.
But when you grow up with cystic fibrosis, breathing becomes something you’re constantly aware of. It’s not background noise, it’s front and center. Every deep breath feels like effort. Every cold or infection can change your entire day, sometimes your entire future.
I’ve spent a lot of my life in hospitals, doing treatments, and living in moments where doctors weren’t sure how things were going to turn out. Twice in my life I reached a point where the only path forward was a double lung transplant. Two times someone else’s gift gave me the chance to keep living.
That kind of experience changes the way you see the world.
You start to realize that things most people rush past are actually the most meaningful parts of life. A quiet morning. A good laugh with friends. The feeling of fresh air filling your lungs without resistance.
And for me, music.
Music has always been a huge part of my life. When my body felt limited, music gave me space to express what was going on inside my heart. Sometimes it was listening to a song that said exactly what I couldn’t find the words for. Other times it was writing my own songs and turning emotions into melodies.
In a way, music became another way of breathing.
There were seasons where things felt uncertain, where fear and frustration were real. Chronic illness has a way of reminding you that life isn’t something you can control. But over time I learned something important: surviving and living are not the same thing.
Surviving keeps you here.
Living means choosing joy, purpose, and connection even when life has been hard.
Faith played a big role in helping me understand that difference. It reminded me that our stories aren’t finished just because we face difficult chapters. Sometimes the hardest seasons are the ones that teach us the most about gratitude, resilience, and hope.
These days the things that bring me joy are surprisingly simple. Writing music. Spending time with people I care about. Encouraging others who might be walking through their own challenges. Moments where someone says, “Your story helped me.”
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this journey, it’s that breathing isn’t just physical.
It’s emotional. It’s spiritual. It’s the feeling of being fully present in the life you’ve been given.
Every breath is a reminder that life is fragile, but it’s also incredibly meaningful.
And sometimes the bravest thing any of us can do is take the next breath... and keep going
- Pope