Cystic Fibrosis Podcast

In Jerry's latest podcast, we meet Beth Gerritsen – mother to Charlie, who has cystic fibrosis, and Willie, who does not. From raising her boys in the Virgin Islands to moving back to the states, she shares some insight into CF care in the VI, how it impacted Charlie's health, and more. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In his latest podcast, Jerry chatted with Charlie, 11 with CF, and his older brother Willie about the CF-sibling relationship. They talk about spending almost all of their time together, playing sports, their goals, and more. To his fellow CF patients, Charlie says, “Stay strong. Never give up. And always do your treatments.” This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest CF Podcast, we meet Griffin Taylor, a 15-year-old who loves lacrosse and squash, is on his school’s robotics team, and is his class’s treasurer. During quarantine, Griffin started The Salty Scholar, a tutoring service to assist with virtual learning. When he saw his mom – a teacher – go through the virtual learning process, he realized that it was a perfect opportunity to help other CF patients who may have to take long absences while in the hospital or sick. Tune in to learn more about Griffin and The Salty Scholar! This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest CF Podcast, Jerry speaks with Dwight Cheu, CEO of ZephyRx, a home-based respiratory diagnostic testing and therapy that allows patients to actively manage and improve their own lung health through telehealth, video games, and virtual reality. Cheu describes the positives of the product: at-home testing capabilities, prevention of extended travel to clinic, PFT results automatically transmitted to appropriate physicians, and more. Tune in to learn about ZephyRx and how it can encourage patients to manage their own health and proactively gain independence. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

The You Cannot Fail Rare Disease podcast series was created so that the Boomer Esiason Foundation can shine a spotlight on other people and organizations in the rare disease community. In the second episode, Swapna Kakani discusses dealing with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after her small intestine organ transplant. In June 2014, after checking a few things off of her bucket list, Swapna decided that she was ready to have a small intestine transplant and to deal with the complications that often accompany an organ transplant. Tune in to learn more about Swapna’s transplant journey. 
 This video podcast series was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Atara Bio to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

The You Cannot Fail Rare Disease podcast series was created so that the Boomer Esiason Foundation can shine a spotlight on other people and organizations in the rare disease community. In the first episode, Swapna Kakani shares her story about being born with a rare disease, short bowel syndrome and later developing rare PTLD (Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder). Because of her experiences, she founded Alabama Rare, a grassroots coalition to unite the state around the rare disease population. The coalition acts to bring support to individuals and families, and advocate for necessary change. Tune in to learn more about the rare disease community! This video podcast series was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Atara Bio to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I believe in enjoying life and living it to the fullest, having fun, and just enjoying time.” Brayden Walsh, a 16-year-old living with CF, joins Jerry Cahill’s CF Podcast to share his experience as one of the 10% of patients without modulators available for treatment. Even though he deals with a number of other illnesses on top of CF, Brayden does not allow any of that to limit him. He plays sports, hikes, hunts, fishes, and loves being physically active in any way that is safe for his health. Tune in to learn more about Brayden. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest CF Podcast, Anthony Esposito, aka Espo 2, shares why he loves fitness and nutrition. While he doesn’t have CF himself, he wants to inspire all people to improve their health with his Youtube channel – and to convince people that burpees are the best! This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I love ice hockey because it really opens up my life and makes me stop thinking about cystic fibrosis and worrying about my health.” Meet Reilly Hoagland! Reilly was diagnosed at 4-years-old with cystic fibrosis, but has never let it stop him from living life the way he wants. Reilly is an honor roll student who loves sports and travels up and down the east coast with his hockey team. And he has been running in the Boomer’s CF Run to Breathe every year with his team, Reilly’s Rockstars. Tune in to hear more about Reilly. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I’ve always felt gratitude for the hospital staff, but this was over and above. We all know how contagious this is, and they knew that pretty early on. And yet, their job is to care for people and they did it regardless of their own risk. They did it with such kindness and caring.” Jerry caught up with Kay W. to talk about her experience of living through a COVID diagnosis while living with cystic fibrosis. She shared her initial symptoms, how they developed, her time in intensive care, and what positive thoughts helped her get through the toughest times. Tune in to hear Kay’s story. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In Jerry Cahill’s latest podcast, he spoke with 30-year-old Enid Katz, who was diagnosed with CF when she was 3. Enid’s passion in life is horses – which motivates her to stay healthy, active, and fit, even when she isn’t feeling her best. She shares what it’s like for her when she has a pulmonary exacerbation, how it can feel defeating to have to go on IVs, and more. Tune in to hear more of Enid’s story. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Corbus Pharmaceuticals to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

Jerry Cahill spoke with Dr. Kelsey Finn about her book, “Having Cystic Fibrosis is a lot like being a Super Hero,” which relays information about CF so that kids and parents have a launching pad for more serious conversations. Dr. Finn’s goal is to support parents and give them the resources that they need to empower and educate their kids. She believes that parents can empower kids to become responsible adults by talking to them about CF and educating them about why their CF care is important, fostering independence and responsibility, while keeping the line of communication open. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Chiesi to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I would tell a caregiver or a spouse of someone with CF that – all of those things you are feeling, the fatigue, the anger, the resentment, all of that is okay because we’ve all gone through that. It’s also really important for you, the caregiver, to take care of yourself.” Jerry sat down with Tom Kaminski, his wife of 27 years, Lynn, and their son JT to learn more about how they’ve dealt with Lynn’s pulmonary exacerbations over the years. Tom shared his story as a husband and caretaker, discussed how he knew Lynn’s health was declining, and how he admires his wife’s resilience at the most difficult times. Tune in to learn more. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted education grant from Corbus to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I would recommend that anyone with CF who can physically get up and move, to get up and move. I have found that exercise has changed my life completely, and without it, I don’t know where I would be at this point.” Meet Scott Marraffa, a 25-year-old who is living with cystic fibrosis AND competed on American Ninja Warrior! Scott’s parents kept him constantly informed about his CF growing up, and he realized early on that getting stronger meant staying healthier. So, he set a goal to compete on American Ninja Warrior with five years of training – but actually made it in three! Tune in to hear his conversation with Jerry on the latest CF Podcast. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“Everyone deserves that same realistic hope for a deep breath and for a future. And the work of Emily’s Entourage is focused on achieving that for every single person so no one with CF is left behind.” Jerry sat down – virtually – with Emily Kramer Golinkoff in his latest podcast to discuss the incredible work that she does with her 501(c)3, Emily’s Entourage. As a patient advocate and speaker, the 35-year-old works to bring awareness to the 10% of the CF population who live with nonsense mutations and don’t have highly effective therapies. Because she is a part of that population, she has unique insight into what it is like to see major treatments pass her by as her disease moves into advanced stages. Emily’s biggest fear is time, but she continues to work tirelessly to fight for her health and to advocate for those who, like her, are in the “10 percent.” This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Translate Bio to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In part 2 of Managing Your Life as a Teenager, Jerry sits down with Sean Randles… 6 years after their first podcast. Today, Sean is 15-years-old, runs track, and played freshman basketball. He is also a positive social media influencer, spending most of his time recording Tik Tok dances and sharing his life on Instagram – always in a positive way! Tune in to learn more about Sean. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

Jerry caught up with 17-year-old Colin Randles in his latest podcast. Colin, a Junior honors student, golfs, plays JV basketball, and rows crew. His brother Sean, who also has cystic fibrosis, is his biggest support system, and they do as much as they can together. Tune in to hear more about Colin and to see a flashback to his original appearance on Jerry’s podcast six years ago. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation. http://www.esiason.org

“I can fight alone, but we can win together.” Last week, we met Eric Schandel… and this week Jerry sat down with his wife, Ashley! In the latest CF Podcast, Ashley shares a little about herself and what it was like when her daughter Remi Monroe was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. She also talks about charity runs, the silver lining of having a child diagnosed with CF, and more. Tune in to learn about Ashley. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

All parents worry about their children – but parents of kids with cystic fibrosis have additional stressors and concerns. In the latest CF podcast, Eric Schandel sat down with Jerry Cahill to share his experience of being a CF dad – to Remi, who is now almost two. At the time of Remi’s diagnosis, Eric was alone at work when he got the news, and he did what so many do – turn to the internet, which took him down a dark rabbit hole. It wasn’t until they met with Remi’s CF team at Stony Brook that Eric felt a sense of relief and hope. Tune in to learn more about Eric’s journey as a CF dad. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Chiesi to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In Jerry’s latest CF Unmasked podcast, he sits down with Greg Love for an uncensored look at what it’s like growing up with two brothers with cystic fibrosis. From witnessing countless pulmonary exacerbations to feeling guilty about being healthy, Greg shares his experiences openly and honestly. Within his own family, Greg saw two sides of CF – his brother Chris battles by staying physically fit and compliant, and his brother Patrick unfortunately faced the harsher side of the progressive disease, eventually passing away in 2014. Tune in to learn more about Greg and his own journey as a CF brother. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Corbus to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I am not defined by my disease. I have CF, but I am not CF. I can do what everyone else can do; I just might have to do it a little bit different. I might have to add in some treatments during the day. But I am strong. I can do it all.” Christie Fogelstrom joined Jerry on his latest CF Podcast to discuss traveling frequently for work while living with cystic fibrosis. From flying-related anxiety to trying to find time to stay compliant – Christy covers all topics of how she prioritizes both her health and her job on a regular basis. Tune in to hear her travel tips! This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest CF Podcast, Jerry Cahill interviewed James Colligan, Director of Sales and Business Development, and Danielle Maffei, Lead CF Pharmacist, at Total Care RX, a specialty pharmacy that focuses on lifting the financial burden of patients living with cystic fibrosis. Danielle and James discuss their focus of educating CF patients about the programs that help reduce copays and make medications more readily available. They also share some ways that their team is able to rush the prior authorization process and provide overall assistance. Tune in to learn more! This video podcast was made possible by the financial support of Mylan.

“My life is my family; and when my family feels good, then I’m happy, and my heart is full.” In his latest CF Podcast, Jerry was joined by Ann Marie Raiano, who has two children living with cystic fibrosis – Chris, 31, and Amanda, 27. She shares that taking care of her family has always been the most important thing in her life. From difficulties when her kids were young to seeing her son have a double lung transplant, Ann Marie has been there for Chris and Amanda through it all. She lives her life by the motto, one day at a time, and has always told her children that if they ask, she’ll be there. Tune in to learn more about Ann Marie’s life as a mother to two kids living with cystic fibrosis. This video podcast was made possible through an educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“Keep pushing. Know that people are working for a treatment for the extra group of our friends who don’t have a treatment. And just exercise and stay focused.” Jerry took his CF Podcasts to Skype! In his latest, he chats with Emily Schaller who is 38 years-old, runs her own CF charity called Rock CF, and is one of the first patients to start Kalydeco during clinical trials. The two friends catch up while Emily shares some of her own background, from being diagnosed at 18 months to starting an all-girl rock band in her 20s to how she became dedicated to fitness and compliance. Tune in to learn more about Emily! This video podcast was made possible with financial support from Mylan Pharmaceutical.

In August 2019, Jerry Cahill got into a serious car accident. As someone living with CF and post double lung transplant, he faced many complications that kept him in the hospital for 2 months. He survived 2 surgeries in ten days and many other procedures and only recently decided to share this particular story. Tune in to see the Unmasked side of cystic fibrosis and of Jerry. This video podcast was made possible with financial support from Mylan Pharmaceutical.

“Get involved. Try everything and any sport possible. Find what you like doing and what you’re good at. And remember you only live once, so be the best you can be.” 2.6-mile swim. 26-mile run. 126-mile bike ride. 2.6 days. After the London Marathon was cancelled due to COVID-19, 16-year-old Morgan Coxhead decided to complete an Iron Man in isolation to raise funds for his mom’s charity, Just Breathe Cornwall, to make up for those lost marathon fundraising dollars. Tune in to learn more about Morgan, his love of exercise, passion for football (soccer), and what his life with cystic fibrosis has been like so far. This video podcast was made possible with financial support from Mylan Pharmaceutical.

“I think that’s important for people in life – to help you move forward and be successful – is to be passionate.” Jerry Cahill was diagnosed at 10-years-old at a time when doctors told his parents that he most likely wouldn’t see his teenage years. Instead of treating him like he would break, his parents sent him out to play with his sibling – 4 brothers and a sister – as much as he could. From baseball to basketball to football, Jerry tried it all until he found his place in the cross country and pole vaulting worlds. As he got older, Jerry discovered that having passion for something and being comfortable with reinventing himself would lead to personal and professional success – with his health, his career, and his time as a pole vault athlete and coach. Tune in to learn more about Jerry and why he attributes his health and age to his ability to keep moving forward. This video podcast was made possible with financial support from Mylan Pharmaceutical.

In the latest CF podcast, Andrea Eisenman shares her CF and transplant journey with Jerry – from growing up in the dark ages of CF to transplant and beyond. Andrea is now 55-years-old and 20 years post double lung transplant! She attributes her life and its longevity to positivity, humor, and of course, exercise. Tune in to learn more about Andrea’s life today! This video podcast was made possible with financial support from Mylan Pharmaceutical.

In the latest cystic fibrosis podcast, Jerry chatted with Clara, who is 20 years old, living with CF, and a sophomore at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. They talked about all things regarding relationships, from friendships to romantic partners. Clara shared that she started telling friends about having CF as early as elementary school, but finds it easier now that she is older and has a better understanding of the disease. She feels that it is really important to be completely honest and up-front about everything. Tune in to learn more about Clara! This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In Jerry’s latest CF podcast, Chris Raiano talks about his own personal journey with cystic fibrosis. From being diagnosed at two to meeting his now wife, Kylie, to life two years after a double lung transplant – he covers it all! He and Kylie dive into their relationship and how having a supportive partner can make a world of difference. Chris’s one regret through his transplant process? Waiting too long to be actively listed. He says that anyone heading down that path should get listed sooner rather than later – that the healthier you go in, the healthier you come out. This podcast has been made possible with financial support from Mylan.

In Jerry Cahill’s latest Cystic Fibrosis Podcast, Eileen Charles discusses the ups-and-downs of helping your child transition from pediatrics to adult CF care. Eileen’s daughter, Clara, ended up making the move at eighteen-years-old because her doctor retired. Eileen says the key is to keep open lines of communication while learning how to step back as a parent… It can be scary! But in the end, she sees her daughter transitioning to an adult care team as ‘moving up’ – it means that her child is learning, growing, and taking the next step in life. Eileen’s biggest piece of advice – trust that your child, who is now an adult, can communicate with his or her care team clearly to manage anything that comes up! This podcast has been made possible with financial support from Mylan.

In Jerry’s latest podcast, Anthony Espo, a personal trainer and exercise advocate, explains how his book, W.A.H.O.O.S. in Life, can help people overcome emotional and physical obstacles. He has worked with Jerry and countless others who have chronic illnesses to optimize workouts, improve nutrition, and beat the odds. This podcast has been made possible with financial support from Mylan.

In Jerry Cahill’s latest podcast, eighteen year old Alexander Remington describes his experience leaving his family – including his sister who also has cystic fibrosis – and home to move across the country to attend Gettysburg College. Alexander is studying history, playing ultimate frisbee, and making it a goal to go out and experience as much as he can. Tune in to learn why he chose to request his own dorm room, how he continues to stay compliant, and why he believes taking responsibility for his health is so important. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

Meet Lindsay Briggs, a 34-year-old living with cystic fibrosis and also a two-time lung transplant recipient. The oldest of four kids, she had a sister pass away at the age of 29 due to unexpected complications of CF and is still close with the other two. While she lived a relatively normal life until she was 13, Lindsay faced her first double lung transplant when she was in her early 20s. To both of her donor families, Lindsay says, “Besides an immense thank you… Losing my sister, I know how they felt losing someone they loved. And I don’t know how they did it.” Tune in to Jerry Cahill’s latest CF Podcast to learn more about Lindsay’s battle with CF. This podcast has been made possible with financial support from Mylan.

Twelve years post-double lung transplant, Donna DiCosta is beating the odds in a big way! Donna’s transplant story is truly unique – from her journey with CF to the complications she encountered after the surgery and even meeting her donor’s family; she is now living her life to the fullest. Tune in to Jerry Cahill’s latest CF podcast to learn more about Donna, her story, and her journey through transplant. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from the Allergan Foundation to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest CF Podcast, Auburn Volz – 30 years old living with CF and post double lung transplant – shares her journey with the disease and the unique story she has with the family of her donor. Just six months after the life-saving surgery, Auburn wrote a letter to her donor’s family thanking them for their generosity and sharing the things she’d been able to do with her new lungs. On the way to her one-year appointment, she received a response letter that led her to finding the Crist family. Eventually, they met face-to-face and have been able to find comfort in that relationship. “At the end of the day, I’m here. I’m living. And I have a little boy to thank for that.” This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from the Allergan Foundation to the Boomer Esiason Foundaton.

“I recommend organ donation to anyone who loses a loved one. […] Why would you not want to save someone else from going through what you’re experiencing?” In Jerry Cahill’s latest video podcast, Jia Crist shares the story of losing her son Dre at just 11-years-old and how choosing to donate his organs has positively impacted her life. Dre Crist was a special young man who was kind and always wanted to help others. When he suddenly passed away from complications due to intestinal malrotation, his mother knew that he would want to help others even in death – and so she chose to make him an organ donor. A year later, Jia heard from Auburn – the young girl whose life was saved by Dre’s lungs. Tune in to watch their incredible story unfold. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from the Allergan Foundation to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest edition of Jerry Cahill’s Cystic Fibrosis Podcast series, Robert Mahony, 31 and living with CF, shares some insight into his life. He loves to travel, play soccer, boat and jet ski, and is a die-hard Chicago Bears fan while balancing work, married life, and living with a chronic illness. Mahoney details how he deals with pulmonary exacerbations, and most importantly, how he feels afterwards. Tune in to learn how he stays positive in the face of adversity. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Corbus to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In Jerry Cahill’s latest podcast, Laura Bonnell – mother to two daughters living with CF – shares her family’s story. From diagnosis to study abroad mishaps, Laura worries about her daughters constantly, despite the fact that they tell her not to be concerned all of the time. While her daughters choose to make their lives outside of the CF world, Laura chose to create a Foundation that allows her to interact with other CF parents on a regular basis – and she says it’s the best therapy possible for her. Tune in to learn more about Laura, her family, and how they deal with cystic fibrosis. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In Jerry Cahill’s latest podcast, Sarah Yourman, who is 29 years old, shares her unique journey living with cystic fibrosis. She not only battles CF, she also faced a Type 1 diabetes and Chrohn’s disease diagnosis at a very early age. Growing up, she tried to live as normal life as possible – skiing, spending time with family, and eventually earned her bachelor of science and dietetics, which has enabled her to work with young patients with type 1 diabetes. Sara lives by the saying, “A normal life is whatever life you lead that brings satisfaction to you and inspiration to others.” Tune in to learn more about Sara and her CF journey. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted education grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In Jerry Cahill’s latest Cystic Fibrosis Unmasked video series, 35-year-old Erica Cenci shares her recent battle with frequent pulmonary exacerbations, which are respiratory infections that usually present with increased cough, sputum production, shortness of breath, and more. (Source: CFF.org) Erica started dancing when she was just 3 years old and continues to do so today as a teacher. She toured the US and Canada with Cats and The Chorus Line and is proud that she was able to handle the travel and long contracts involved in that work. Now, Erica is facing more frequent pulmonary exacerbations which inhibit her work and daily life. Refusing to give up or give in to cystic fibrosis, she says her dream is, “to have 35+ more years to do what I want. I want to continue to be active. I want to make my body move and dance and ski and play tennis. My dream is to be alive and healthy and with people for as long as I possibly can.” Tune in to learn more about Erica’s life with cystic fibrosis. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Corbus Pharmaceutical to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest Jerry Cahill CF Podcast, Sara Pulkovski shares what it’s like to be a mom to three daughters – two of whom who have cystic fibrosis. She discusses her initial reaction to their diagnoses, how difficult is was to go through the post-partem period after, and how her family’s life shifted. As a mom, she tries her best to make sure all of her daughters get equal love and attention and is constantly working with her husband to create their own new normal. Tune in to learn more about Sara’s life a CF mom. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from The Allergan Foundation to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

Seven years ago, Jerry Cahill sat down to interview Katie O’Grady for his podcast show. She was in high school, at the peak of her health, and had so many exciting steps in front of her. Now, Katie is working full time, coaching at Boston University, and building a virtual coaching business so that she can help other people living with cystic fibrosis achieve their health and wellness goals. Tune in to hear more about where Katie is now and how she got there. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

Mental health and emotional pain are major issues for people living with cystic fibrosis, but are aspects of care that are only recently being addressed in a serious way. The latest video in the CF Unmasked series features James O’Connell, who shares his diagnosis story, why he felt isolated and alone as a child, and how that led him down a self-destructive path to addiction. Tune in to learn more about his story and how he finally learned that he deserved love from the people around him, with or without cystic fibrosis. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from The Allergan Foundation to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the first video of the CF Unmasked series, Bradley Poole opens up about his battle with cystic fibrosis and mental health. Growing up, he hid his CF from everyone but family and a few very close friends – often isolating himself from his peers. Now, 31, a fitness trainer, and happily married to his wife Stephanie, he is sharing how opening up about his condition changed his outlook on life and enabled him to deal with his mental health issues. Tune in to learn more about Bradley’s journey with cystic fibrosis and mental health. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In Jerry Cahill’s latest video podcast, Thomas Brophy – a 23-year-old who attended the University of Maryland, shares his path through college, which includes how he helped raise over $140,000 for CF research and how he learned to manage his time in order to stay healthy. One major tip for other people living with CF who are off to school? Do not skip treatments – even when you’re tired or feel like you’re too busy – that way, you are less likely to miss out on anything due to an extended hospital stay. From his diagnosis to his dedication to exercise and sports growing up, tune in to learn more about Thomas! This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Chiesi to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest Jerry Cahill CF Podcast, Dr. Patrick Flume – Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics and Director of the Adult CF Center at the Medical University of South Carolina – sits down to explain pulmonary exacerbations and the impact of inflammation in cystic fibrosis patients. What is pulmonary exacerbation? While there is no specific definition or criteria, Dr. Flume’s general description is a “clinical worsening of a patient’s underlying lung disease.” In simpler terms – a patient’s daily symptoms worsen, whether that is a cough, increased sputum, fatigue, or loss of appetite. Why are these exacerbations so harmful? Exacerbation leads to inflammation, which in a patient with CF, is excessive, persistent, and ongoing. The inflammation causes injury to a patient’s airways, which furthers damage and leads to loss of lung function that can often not be recovered. How are these issues treated? While there are therapies in place, they only address the downstream consequences of the underlying condition – they are in place to help the patient feel better and treat the symptoms. Tune in to learn more about exacerbations and inflammation and why Dr. Flume thinks working with patients and seeing things from their viewpoints is so important to the treatment and healthcare process. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Corbus Pharmaceuticals to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest Jerry Cahill CF podcast, Laura O’Donnell – married to Kevin O’Donnell for over five years – shares what her journey has been like as the spouse and primary caregiver of someone who faced end stage cystic fibrosis and transplant. Prior to the surgery, Laura had very little “me” time and always placed Kevin and his health first. Now, life after transplant allows for a little more time for Laura and enables them to start checking items off their bucket list as a couple! Laura’s advice for any spouse or significant other going through that process? Educate yourself and connect with others who have faced it already! Tune in to learn more about Laura, her husband Kevin, and their path through transplant. This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Chiesi to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In his latest video, Jerry sits down with Kevin O’Donnell who is 39 and 19 months post-transplant. They discuss the fears, obstacles, and hopes that Kevin has experienced through the transplant process and how his wife Laura got him through it. He says the biggest misconception about having a double lung transplant is that people think that it cures cystic fibrosis when it does not. Kevin also encourages everyone to work out regularly before transplant to make the entire process before and after easier. Tune in to learn more! This video podcast was made possible through and unrestricted educational grant from Chiesi to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In his latest video podcast, Jerry sat down with Margaret Carfora, who is 36 and 14 years post double lung transplant. She explains how her positive attitude has helped her face three different types of cancer due to transplant complications. Marge attributes her success to her tight-knit family and friends – who remind her that she doesn’t want to miss a moment and to prioritize her own health in order to stay around for as long as possible. Tune in to learn more about Marge during Organ Donation Awareness Month! This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In this week’s cystic fibrosis podcast, 56-year-old Phil Wenrich shares his unique CF and lung transplant story. Before he was even born, Phil’s brother passed away from CF complications. Because of that, he started to hide the fact that he was living with cystic fibrosis because it negatively impacted the ways in which other kids interacted with him. As he got older and started working in law enforcement, he continued to keep his battle with CF private – through jobs in patrol, motorcycle cop, undercover, detective, and more. Tune in to the video to learn more about Phil’s career, his stress-relieving hobby of motorcycles, and his path to double lung transplant.