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facilitates candid and open
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and medical professionals who impact our lives.
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K. Bischoff-Howell
Because her parents
divorced when she was five years old, Katrina grew up in two different towns,
Escondido and Carlsbad, in Southern California, and was diagnosed with CF at age 2.
"I am told by my parents that I had (and still do
have) a ravenous appetite", she says, "and had several rectal prolapses before I was
diagnosed using the sweat test. Miranda, my younger sister, was diagnosed
with CF the day of her birth. Miranda was in extremely poor health, and it
amazes my mother and me that she lived as long as she did. She died just two
months shy of her eighth birthday. Miranda’s death was difficult for me,
because I was ten years old at the time. I often think about her and
question
myself with what kind of woman she would be like now, if she had lived."
Katrina
graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1989, spent a year as an exchange student in Germany, and completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree at San Francisco
State
University in 1997. "My education has been very important to me, because it
took much of my time and energy to accomplish it. There were times when I
felt like I would not have been able to finish my goals due to extended
illness and hemoptysis complications.
Although my health prevents me from either working or attending college
in a traditional setting, I am exploring other options. I feel that life in
general is an ongoing education. Living life to its fullest, being
independent, embracing one another’s differences, helping others and being
humble are just a few of the concepts I have learned from people I know."
Katrina is taking
tap and jazz dance classes, just like she did as a girl. "Not only
is dance enjoyable, it is a wonderful airway clearance for me. Yoga has been
a great help to me as well. I have the chance now to become more creative and diversified."
"Faith in God has helped me through formidable times in life, and I am
grateful to my mother for introducing me to faith in God. Prayer and reading the
Bible are my ways of coping in this sometimes complicated world. I praise
God
daily that I am alive and experiencing all its possibilities, good and bad."
"There was a
period in time where I had lost hope. I was miserable spiritually and
feared
death. Philip, my husband, helped me through it.
He has been my constant companion and friend. We have been through so
much together and have been married since 1994. Since we both have CF, we
can relate to one another in ways that other couples may not understand."
Looking Glass Project
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