Master of Invisibility

At age 9, something shifted. She joined the swimming team. And for the next 10 years, she became a master of performance. The world saw a varsity captain, a provincial athlete, a girl with no limitations. What they didn’t see was the demon, hard and fast, every single day.

This episode explores the invisible reality of living with CF while appearing invincible:

• The bathroom secret: Copious time in the bathroom with stories about food poisoning, always knowing where they were
• The salt crystals: Literally melting in summer heat, licking salt off her arms, salt-and-vinegar chips always in hand
• The mucous swallowing: Constant, disgusting, manageable but always present. Wet, wicked coughs teammates heard but never questioned
• The exacerbations: Every 2 months, down a week, missing school and games, returning like nothing happened
• The lie she told: “Fake enzymes because my body can’t make real ones”
• The fatigue: Managing a disease 24/7 while playing three varsity sports

How did she not collapse? A fantastic appetite. Sleeping constantly. Napping between every activity. The only way to perform invincibility is to rest when nobody’s watching.

By fourth year, the performance was cracking. She was coughing mucous into cups. Dumping them down toilets. Her exercise tolerance becoming non-existent.

The master of invisibility was starting to shatter.