💜 What Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month Means to Me: A Letter of Gratitude

Tim Sweeney | CF Warrior

May is Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on a disease that often lives in the shadows. But for me, it’s more than just raising awareness. It’s a sacred pause. A time to breathe, reflect, and say thank you.

I was born with cystic fibrosis. And from the very beginning, life handed me a challenge that would shape every part of who I am. But what I’ve learned over the decades—through double lung transplants, hospital stays, setbacks, and triumphs—is that I’ve never walked this road alone.

So this month, I want to use my voice not just to raise awareness, but to express gratitude.

🙏 Thank You to the Cystic Fibrosis Community

To my fellow CF Warriors: You are the reason I fight harder. You inspire me daily with your courage, your honesty, your grit. You show the world that strength isn’t about being fearless—it’s about showing up even when you're scared.

To the parents, partners, siblings, and friends of those with CF: You are our silent heroes. The ones who make the shakes, keep track of meds, stay up during treatments, and love us on our weakest days. I see you. And I thank you.

🩺 Thank You to the Medical Teams

I’ve been blessed to have some of the most dedicated nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists, and transplant specialists in my corner. From the PICC line insertions to the post-op tears, you’ve stood by me—not just as professionals, but as people who care. Without you, I wouldn’t be here. Literally.

💊 Thank You for the Science

Because of medical breakthroughs like Trikafta, I can breathe a little easier. I can lift more. Eat more. Live more. I’m grateful to the researchers, the donors, the foundations, and every person who ever ran a 5K or gave a dollar to CF research. You may not know me—but you’ve saved me.

📖 Thank You for Letting Me Share My Story

This month, I’m proud to release The Timmy Chronicles of a Hidden World: A CF Warrior’s Heart. It’s a children’s book about bravery, hope, and what it means to live with cystic fibrosis. Writing it was a labor of love, but also of healing. And to every family, reader, or young CF Warrior who’s picked up my books—thank you. Your support fuels everything I do.

💜 Why CF Awareness Month Matters to Me

It reminds me not just of the fight—but of the love that surrounds it.

It’s easy to get caught up in the struggle: the coughing, the treatments, the setbacks. But this month, I choose to focus on the grace. On the people who’ve carried me. On the breaths I can take. On the miracles—big and small—that I’ve been given.

🌟 Final Thoughts

I still fight. Every day. But I don’t do it alone. And for that, I’m endlessly grateful.

If you’re part of this journey—whether you live with CF or simply support someone who does—please know this:

You matter. Your love matters. Your belief in us matters.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. Thank you for standing with us.

With love and gratitude,

Tim Sweeney, CF Warrior