Megan Parker Artist

In the early 70’s, when I was born, CF was barely on anyone’s radar. According to data I was slated to expire by 2nd grade. 

The most important thing that was done for me at this crucial time was to let me be me. I was NEVER restricted from doing anything and in fact, I was encouraged to join every sports team I could. I excelled at everything and went through my elementary and high school years unscathed. I graduated high school in 1990 and then headed west to start my first university degree at the University of Calgary.

This is when my downfall began. I was on my own, living in rez, 7 hours away from any support of any kind. I desperately wanted to be like every other first year student and did all the things they did; that was my first mistake. I was a train wreck.

By 1992 I was down to 100 lbs and 65% lung function (down from 86%). By 1995 I was down to 80lbs and 25% lung function. 6 weeks before my wedding I was forced to get a feeding tube to save my life, bottoming out at 74lbs and circling the drain quickly. It was a profoundly brutal  time in my life. 

I did manage to graduate in ‘95 and started a full-time job 1994 as the Events Supervisor for all home University of Calgary varsity events. It was the best job I ever had, BUT it cost me dearly. I worked over 60-70 hrs. a week. In the fall of ‘97 I had to retire and ended up going on long-term disability.

Fast forward to 2000 and I had regained all my weight and then some and managed to re-coupe some of my lung function. I managed to get back up to 42%. 

In 2004, I climbed my first mountain. 

It was a 7500’ mountain in Canmore, called Ha Ling peak. For the able bodies it would take a cool 3-4 hours return, for me and my team it took 14 hours. When I lay at the top of that mountain and I looked at what I had just accomplished, I wept…uncontrollably.

It was transformative. I realized that my life is not over, and I can do a lot with just 42%. I climbed 2 more summits in 2005 and 2006. Yamnuska, which has been beautifully painted by Megan here, was my last. In 2011, I climbed the big wall in Dubrovnik, Croatia, to my surprise.

Since then, I have been on my new fitness journey into CrossFit, competing in the 2017 OPEN (a 5-week test of fitness) and once again shattered my own expectations with a lung function of 30%. 

The moral to my story is- never doubt yourself.

I currently sit at 26% lung function I am 52 years old. My body is broken and bruised, my organs don’t work well, and my time is fleeting. I have one more massive challenge in my life, a double lung transplant and navigating through that part. 

The modulators have extended my time with my current lungs, but they won’t stop the inevitable damage from coming. Until then I will continue my fitness journey, no matter what it looks like. I am biking the trails with my E-bike, oxygen on my back, rowing everyday indoors, weightlifting and walking the paths in my little neck of the world. Every night I dance to my favourite songs and sing until I lose all my breath. Until the day I leave this world, I will always be exercising in some form or another.

It is exercise and fitness that has carried me through to my 53rd birthday on July 19. A huge accomplishment for my generation of CF’ers. 

As was brilliantly stated by Sir Edmond Hillary: “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.”