Ashley Ballou-Bonnema was featured on CBS Sunday Morning, with Jane Pauley. That’s when I saw her, and screamed from the couch! I backed up the program to get her name, and knew that I had to get in touch with her. She shined so brightly in that moment, as she says on her Breathe Bravely website, she was “Giving voice to CF.” Ashley’s brother also had CF. She describes how life was growing up with a brother who wasn’t diagnosed for the first 7 years of his life, and how it affected her parents’ marriage. Ashley’s brother was very sick and, as she’ll tell you, it took a toll on her mental health as well. Having a chronic and fatal disease is no fun, but it has given her strength and purpose. Ashley will tell us about her marriage to her high school sweetheart, a challenging health journey through her college years, and coming out on the other side with her foundation, Breathe Bravely. You will also be screaming with joy after you hear her story; she’s an amazing young woman.
For more information on The Bonnell Foundation find us at https://thebonnellfoundation.org/
Vertex Pharma – the science of possibility. https://www.vrtx.com
The original music in this podcast is performed by Kevin Allan, who happens to have Cystic Fibrosis. You can find him on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/KevinAllanMusic
This podcast was produced by JAG in Detroit Podcasts. https://jagindetroit.com/
For more information on Ashley’s organization, Breathe Bravely, check out: https://www.breathebravely.org/