RIP Heather

Another beautiful soul was ripped from the earth yesterday. This time an amazingly strong CF fighter, Heather MacInnis.

I had the honour of meeting her while in Toronto. She had received her gift of life, but developed complications and had to return to Toronto to await a second set of lungs.

She had such a fight. So many issues and so many tests. Trials and errors. Through it all she stayed positive and hopeful. She wasn't letting go of her boxing gloves.

As we both have CF, we weren't able to really hang out. To get around that I would talk with her from a distance of at least 3 feet apart (to avoid passing germs back and forth). I took her coffee and had mom pass it over. I stood in her doorway longer than expected cause we couldn't stop talking. If it wasn't for CF, we couldn't hung out for hours.

This is the reality of transplant. Transplant is not a cure, but a treatment. It is an incredible and magical gift that should never be taken for granted and should never be forgotten. The daily pills are a good reminder of the delicacy our new lives come with. The daily temperature readings and spirometer (breathing) tests are as well.

I am still reeling from the news. She was so young and had just recently gotten engaged. She had such a great life ahead of her. Life doesn't seem fair. It just doesn't.

I hope she knew the effect she had on so many people. She was inspirational in her fight and spirit. She had so many people on her side, praying and sending well wishes.

I'll never understand why some are taken so young. I don't think we'll ever know. What we will know is the impact they had while still here.

And it was a gift.

RIP Heather.

We will all miss you.