Living With Cystic Fibrosis

I first met Stacey Fogarty-Brown when I decided to travel to Egypt to meet CF families and learn more about the CF community there. Stacey joined me on that journey, and together we saw firsthand the challenges facing people with CF around the world.

Stacey is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at Michigan Medicine and a Certified Advanced Cystic Fibrosis Dietitian. She has spent years helping people with CF and their families nav...

A Lucky Diagnosis on Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th is supposed to be unlucky. But for today’s guest, it may have been one of the luckiest days of her life.

Chloe was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis just 13 days after she was born, on Friday the 13th. That diagnosis would shape nearly every chapter of her life: growing up with CF in the late 1990s and early 2000s, struggling with treatment adherence, becoming a wife and mother,...

I met Lea Goldberger, the CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Israel at a conference in Lisbon, Portugal. The European CF Society Conference.

She was not always in nonprofit leadership; she spent many years working in Israel’s high-tech and product world. She later moved into healthcare and social-welfare organizations, earned a master’s degree in nonprofit and community organization management from Hebrew Univers...

Rare disease connects more people than many of us realize.  While every diagnosis is unique, the journey often includes many of the same challenges: searching for answers, navigating the healthcare system, advocating for better care, managing complex treatments, and finding hope along the way. Cystic fibrosis is considered a rare disease because it affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, just like mitochondrial...

• I Was Wide Awake for Dr. Kimberly Canter’s Presentation on Sleep and Cystic Fibrosis

I was wide awake during a presentation about sleep, but that’s exactly what happens when you hear Dr. Kimberly Canter speak about the connection between sleep and cystic fibrosis.

As the mom of two daughters with CF, I know firsthand how elusive a good night’s sleep can be. For years, our nights included coughing, breathing...

Hi everyone,  The Bonnell Foundation’s mission has always been deeply personal. As we celebrate our Sweet 16 Night of Hope Gala on September 19th, it’s a perfect time to reflect on why this work matters so much.

What started with a need to help families navigating cystic fibrosis has grown into a community of support, education, advocacy, and financial assistance. When Molly was diagnosed with CF, there were far few...

Friends for years and with CF as their connection, Laura and Petrina have figured out how to raise CF awareness across the world.

How does cystic fibrosis care compare between Australia and the United States? Host Laura Bonnell talks with Petrina Fraccaro, CEO of CF Queensland, about her journey into CF advocacy, the mission of CF Queensland, and the support available to individuals and families living with cystic fibrosis.

Laura a...

What would you do if you didn't know what your future held?

For people living with cystic fibrosis, uncertainty is often a constant companion. Inka Nisinbaum faced one of the biggest unknowns of her life as she waited 15 months for a double lung and liver transplant. Every day brought the same question: Would she survive long enough to receive the gift of new organs?

Rather than let fear define her, Inka prepared for every possibil...

Luck of the Irish.   Irish international amateur golfer David Howard  doesn't seem to need luck with all the talent he has. We had an inspiring conversation about chasing big dreams while living with cystic fibrosis. When we recorded this podcast David had not yet qualified for the Open Championship.  He did qualify just after we recorded and went on to play. Quoting from the Open Championship paper, "On the course, ...

Dreams and Determination: Meet four Inspiring students, Living with cystic fibrosis.

One of the greatest joys of The Bonnell Foundation is helping young adults living with cystic fibrosis pursue their educational dreams. Every year, we award scholarships to students attending universities, trade schools, and community colleges. While these scholarships help with tuition and expenses, they also send an important message: we believe ...

I thoroughly enjoy doing my podcasts. It’s the one thing I truly miss from my television news reporting days — interviewing extraordinary people every single day. Through The Bonnell Foundation, I now host a weekly podcast, and honestly, I wish I could do them daily. Not only does it bring me so much joy, but it also gives me the opportunity to share the stories of the incredible people I meet along the way.

Kate O&rsqu...

Jon Gay and I had a great time recording this podcast because we not only talked about podcasting, but also reflected on our years in the broadcast business and what people should know before starting a podcast of their own. There’s a lot of laughter, behind-the-scenes stories, and practical insight for anyone curious about the world of audio storytelling.

Jon and I go way back to our radio days. We worked at different statio...

"Many people have their own thing that lights them on fire, for me, it's running" say Katie O'Grady. 

CF modulator drugs changes are a game changer for people living with cystic fibrosis.

Katie O’Grady’s story is a powerful reflection of how dramatically life with cystic fibrosis has changed in the era of CF modulators, and what becomes possible when hope replaces survival mode.

A runner, speaker, and cystic fibros...

“Take in your final breath before your first new one.”  Those were the words Jillian heard before her double lung transplant—words that would mark the end of one life chapter and the beginning of another.

Jillian is 34 years old, living with cystic fibrosis, and a double lung transplant recipient. Her story is one of resilience, loss, hope, and purpose. From being diagnosed at birth to navigating adulthood, J...

Chrisy and Dr. Kingzett, two women I met when we were all trying to raise our rare voices a little louder.

Christine “Chrisy” Klavitter and Dr. Kristen Kingzett are both rare disease advocates, but more importantly, they are people living this reality every single day. Chrisy lives with Stiff Person Syndrome and Myositis. Kristen is an Internal Medicine physician and an ultra-rare cancer survivor.

Together, we talk abou...

“Behind every breakthrough are countless failures no one ever sees—but that’s exactly what makes progress possible.” Dr. Thomas Kaiser.

When I have scientists on the podcast: they’re some of the coolest, smartest, funniest people, and they’re always willing (and excited) to explain what they do in ways you can actually understand.

Dr. Tom Kaiser is no exception.

He lives and works in Durham, Nort...

Living Fully with CF: Christopher Cornejo’s Journey from Diagnosis to Avatar

This fast-moving and deeply engaging conversation features Christopher Cornejo, who brings a fresh and powerful voice to the cystic fibrosis community.

Diagnosed with CF as an adult just three years ago, Christopher has quickly become an advocate, sharing his story on stage at a UCLA CF symposium and being honored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundat...

A mother, advocate and one woman's global fight for access. Beth Vanstone is working to ensure rare disease patients don’t have to wait for the treatments they need to survive.

Sometimes the most powerful friendships begin in the most unexpected places.  Beth Vanstone and I first connected on social media. At the time, we were simply two moms navigating the complicated, emotional, and relentless world of cystic fibrosis....

Bridging Two Countries, One Mission: Cesar and Nora Hernandez Fight for Spanish-Speaking CF Families

“When Alex was diagnosed, we felt fear and responsibility. If we had access to information in Spanish, other families should too. No one should feel lost because of language.” Nora Hernandez

From Mexico to Mission: How Cesar and Nora Hernandez Are Closing the CF Information Gap for Hispanic Families.

“I came to thi...