Skip to main content

2018: A glance over the year


This was the first FULL year we had kiddos in our home. We became fosterparents in 2017. We loved sharing memories and moments with all the kiddos we had in our home this year! Celebrating birthdays, holidays, and other big events!





Last hospital Stay April 2018




2018 started a little rocky health wise. I was admitted multiple times between Jan-April. However, I started a new medication this year that was a bit of a game changer so far for me. Since starting symdeko I haven't been on IVs or been in the hospital (8 months as of this week!). That's a record since 2011! I'm so happy I am finally stable, considering I was running out of antibiotic options that would work. I went from thinking I was running out of meds and nearing lung transplant list time, to having some of the healthiest and happiest months of my life.





Andrew's Sermon at our home church




Andrew started Seminary school at Wartburg for his Masters in Divinity, we have been blessed by our church & congregation family helping us cover the cost (so we can stay away from student loans). Andrew will finish schooling in 3 years and at that point we hope to find a church in our local area. Pastor asked Andrew to give the message that day. It was an amazing way to start this journey and celebrate the moment with family, friends, and church family.





I changed companies, still doing Real Estate. I had my best year ever in Real Estate- thanks to the help of my co-workers and mentors! <3





Lots of happy and exciting moments: a couple trips to Galena, trip to St. Louis. I was given an award in Feb and named "Realtor of the Year 2017" by the Women's Council of Realtors. Andrew MCed multiple CF events locally (awards nights and CF Education Nights). I was honored to be 1 of 3 panelists at the National Cystic Fibrosis Volunteer Leadership Conference and was honored to share my story with the entire CF Community.





I took on more roles within the CFF and have been very focused on my fundraising! My family, friends, and teammates raised $11,865 this year for the CF Foundation and we still have a couple checks coming in the mail for end of year donations! WHOOHOO- proud and appreciate all of you!





Thank you!!




Andrew and I appreciate all the support and love everyone has shown us with CF fundraising, Fostering, and with my CF. Happy New Year everyone.





and as far as new year resolutions go... I just want to continue to have a happy life with family, friends, and love <3





What's your NY Resolutions?






Comments

Popular posts from this blog

End of Summer -Updates!

Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since we moved our blog to www.MoreThanDNA.org! A lot has happened in that year. My husband and I became Foster Parents to some amazing kiddos and still have one of those kiddos living with us. We have loved having "Shoes" with us and can't believe how much he has grown and learned in the year!I'm so proud of him! We have court next week, so prayers that it goes okay (and doesn't get continued again- that just drags it out longer for the kids). He is now 39 months old and starting Pre-K this month! Other big changes include: Some renovation to our home (complete Bath rehab & updated plumbing throughout), I started a new gene-targeting medication (symdeko) that is helping to keep me stable these last 3 months, and I got an AffloVest! I'm loving my new portable vest! Also, career wise...we both switched jobs! Andrew also started Seminary this summer to get a Masters Degree in Divinity. He has always wanted to be ...

Why I Hope this Hospital Stay is Different

Typically, I've been very stable as an adult. I'm very lucky for that stability. However, 2018 started out nowhere near where I wanted. I was admitted mid March for a virus. We aren't sure what virus I had (every test came back negative). However, I had a consistent fever over 102 the entire 5 days I was in the hospital. Once I was fever free for 24 hours and I started eating better, they let me return home. I was excited to leave and get back to my everyday life. But, considering now a month later (and re-admitted), I think I should of just done a two week tune-up last month while I was in already. Live and learn. As you know (I'm sure) I have been trying to get my lung function back up to around 55-60%. 60% is my goal and it really is the highest my lung function can get, due to all the permanent scarring. I started Orkambi in October 2016. At that time it was the newest gene-modifier drug on market for CF patients (with my mutations).  After going on Orkambi I droppe...

How Fostering and CF impact my work

I haven't been on my blog much.... I think that is because most of my blogging is currently been done on Health Union's Cystic-Fibrosis.com (here is link to all my posts on their site: https://cystic-fibrosis.com/members/cherizkunkel/ ). I decided last fall to step away from real estate after 3 years in the business. It was tough to say good-bye, especially since I had tripled my volume and business in the last year. However, I didn't have time to add any new clients; I kept saying, maybe next week, next month I can fit more work into my schedule. The truth is fostering takes a lot of time. We have between 5-8 monthly visits at the agency, 1 court ate a month, 2 home visits from the caseworker a month, plus e have 2-3 doctors/specialist appointments for our current kiddo. We have lots of paperwork we fill out, gas mile logs, receipts to add, and more! Our kiddo also participates in gymnastics and dance two nights a week. We go to a fosterparent support group with our kid ...