W.'s Story

In W.’s short life of eighteen years, she taught everyone around her how to get through hard things– and she did it with overflowing grace and love.

W. fought everyday to manage the disease of cystic fibrosis. During W.’s life, this disease, which, at that time, only had a life expectancy of about eighteen to twenty years, forced W. to live her life to the fullest possible and spread the greatest amount of love around to everyone she came to know. [Decades later and with incredible medical advances, the average life expectancy can be about 44 years old.] For W. it was showing up everyday to her life with positivity, optimism and love.

W. endured multiple hospitalizations and painful procedures. This author, working as an assistance child life specialist, was lucky to get to know W. during her many hospitalizations.

I spent many days at her bedside supporting her as she tried to be just a regular teen. We decorated her room with balloons, posters, colorful blankets and stuffed animals. We talked endlessly about any topics of the day… cute boys, fashion, arts & crafts, movies and music while only pausing to work in the necessary medical treatments.

W. accepted the unfortunate circumstances she was born with, which could have easily left her angry, in denial and fighting any medical intervention to keep her alive. Instead, W. showed up everyday with her positive presence and hopefulness to see beauty and love around her. When any nurse, doctor or visitors entered her room, they were greeted with warmth and love. She embraced the connections with others and the shared moments to know each other. Her “tools” to get through hard things were staying positive, optimistic and showing kindness to everyone. These tools kept her going through the hard things. Nobody expected her to display this grace at all as the disease took it’s toll and eventually took her life. Yet, even in her last weeks and days, she conveyed her love with a soft smile and squeeze of her hand. She would show us that even as she lost her battle to cystic fibrosis, she got through the endless hard days by her own strength to make the most of each day. She taught the rest of us how to get through hard things.