70 years strong: The Luanne McKinnon story.

A 70-year-old person with cystic fibrosis. It’s a phrase that wasn’t just uncommon a few decades ago—it was virtually unheard of.

When Luanne McKinnon was diagnosed in 1969 at just 13 years old, doctors told her parents she might live to be 19 years old. Today, Luanne stands on the edge of her 70th birthday—a milestone that not only redefines possibility but embodies resilience, creativity, and purpose.

Born in Dallas, Texas in 1955, Luanne was diagnosed at a time when cystic fibrosis was still barely understood. No vests. No targeted medications. No community. And yet, she carved out a life of profound impact. “I stand as a witness to the possible.” says Luanne McKinnon

After earning a Master of Fine Art in Painting and a PhD in Art History, she launched a celebrated career in the visual arts—owning an art dealership in New York City, directing major university museums, publishing works, and curating over 35 exhibitions. She even became a Fellow at the prestigious Getty Research Institute.

And while that would be more than enough for most of us, Luanne continued to pour herself into advocacy—serving as Co-chair for Stanford’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee, raising awareness for CF patients before and after transplant. In 2011, she underwent a successful double-lung transplant at Stanford, and fourteen years later, she is still very much living proof.

This episode is not about her equally remarkable husband—EMMY award-winning filmmaker Daniel Reeve—though we’ll mention him later. This is about Luanne—her life, her art, her truth, and her refusal to let a diagnosis define the limits of her possibility. She says, “I stand as a witness to the possible.”
And after listening to this conversation, I think you’ll believe in the possible, too.

Welcome, to a very special episode of the Living with cystic fibrosis podcast and our incredible guest, Luanne McKinnon.

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