Friend.
Kristen and I met around 2002 when we worked for OSHU School of Nursing before either of us were nurses.
We both longed to do something with people, but we were also not willing to accept “any normal job”. Together we shared the position of a Health and Wellness Specialist. I hired her to help me work with Oregon of Transportation District 4. No matter which state you live, you have seen these men and women...the ones who day and night pave and plow the streets.
Our clients were 99% men…most of whom were none too excited to get lectured on how to be healthier. Nonetheless, it was a very cool job. We got paid to drive to the remote parts of eastern Oregon give a talk on some a wellness topic that Kristen and I developed and changed monthly. Most of the guys grew to enjoy our visits where we shared recipes, provided healthy snacks, facilitated wellness clinics, monitored BP, lead walks and generally shared our knowledge on how to “be well”.
I am not sure exactly how I qualified to be a “health and wellness specialist” but Kristen was made for the job. As a work partner she was ideal….reliable, responsible, creative, trustworthy, energetic, willing and hard working. As a presenter to the ODOT guys she was approachable, funny, fearless of public speaking and motivated many to make lasting positive changes in their lives (quit smoking, exercise, eat a balanced diet).
It wasn’t long before Kristen and I became good friends-she was ever supportive, loving, giving, compassionate, accepting and loyal. ..and to this day one of my closest friends. So years have gone by and we are both nurses and mothers now. Kristen in all her spit and fire got herself accepted to a nursing program and took it on (like she does the world). This isn’t surprising because I doubted Kristen is smart enough (she is one of the smartest people I know), but she had to travel across the state for most of the program. AND despite her not wanting to make a big deal (or any deal) about her CF…she did this while often struggling with managing her CF. I wish someone would write about what that looks like…b/c I only know from a distance. But what I do know of it…tires me out just thinking about the med management and daily treatments, pulmonary exercise, chronic and frequent infections, yearly (at least) “tune ups”.
Honestly…if you know Kristen….you just know what a truly amazing human being she is. If you don’t know her…I wish you did. Because once touched…you’ll be forever grateful for one heck of a ride. She will bless you with her love, her devotion, her humor and loyalty. Kristen is one of my dearest friends on earth. A heart full of gratitude for all we have shared.
However, lately I also feel sad. Sad that Kristen’s CF and the numerous complications related are taking a toll. Kristen’s pregnancy was remarkably easy (she sailed through the process in good health and spirits). But since, Kristen has struggled with what seems like one complication after another. There have been multiple back to back hospitalizations. She isn’t getting a break for months anymore, rather maybe hours of relief and comfort. Kirsten said to me the other day “time is precious”. There are now physical changes that prevent her from doing what she wants to do (take care of others) and be all she wants to be. This new normal is hard to accept…for all of us. Kirsten has survived and thrived…and will fight as long as she is able.
But I worry…there are so few adult patients with CF. She is often ahead of the medical system. She knows her body better than anyone…but is often treated (with (mostly) good intensions) like a pediatric patient and these treatments are not appropriate for the adult CF population. She is ahead of the science. And the medical community is uncomfortable when they don’t know what to do to “fix” things.
Time is precious. Time is all we have. Kristen embodies courage like no one else I have ever known. And she knows. So please listen to her.
So, if you’ll allow….I have one more story. When I was seven months pregnant, Kristen helped organize our baby shower. It happened that the festivity took place the day before my husband and I left for Vietnam for a month. We were traveling there to adopt and bring home our infant son (complicating “things”, I was also seven months pregnant).
Kristen is the type of friend who when we were gone, broke into our house. Can you imagine? It never occurred to me, but Krissy Bear (as my boys and I affectionately call her) organized (oh you know she can organize!) all of our baby stuff, gifts, cribs, bedding, the house, the kitchen…all of it. She put all the clothes in bins with cute little decorated labels. She set up the babies rooms. We came home with a new baby, only to have another one in less than a month.
I am still in awe of this selfless gift. It helped get us off on the right foot. A month later, when I was clearly in labor and we had no other family in town Kristen and Eric were the ones we called. They speed over and spent the night with Quincy until my out of town family arrived. She is that kind of friend…and in our hearts part of our larger family. Sometimes I think about the impact Kristen has had on my life. And I know I am a very small part of her expansive network of friends. It leaves me in awe, because I know there are many other people out there who have remarkable stories about Kirsten, too.
This site gives you a chance to cheer Kirsten on in whatever way feels right. If you don’t know Kristen, but share a friendship with someone else who means a great deal. Call her. Hug her. Send her a letter. Tell her how much the relationship means to you. Also, please consider supporting Kristen, Eric and Hattie so together they can make as much history as possible.
Kristen and I met around 2002 when we worked for OSHU School of Nursing before either of us were nurses.
We both longed to do something with people, but we were also not willing to accept “any normal job”. Together we shared the position of a Health and Wellness Specialist. I hired her to help me work with Oregon of Transportation District 4. No matter which state you live, you have seen these men and women...the ones who day and night pave and plow the streets.
Our clients were 99% men…most of whom were none too excited to get lectured on how to be healthier. Nonetheless, it was a very cool job. We got paid to drive to the remote parts of eastern Oregon give a talk on some a wellness topic that Kristen and I developed and changed monthly. Most of the guys grew to enjoy our visits where we shared recipes, provided healthy snacks, facilitated wellness clinics, monitored BP, lead walks and generally shared our knowledge on how to “be well”.
I am not sure exactly how I qualified to be a “health and wellness specialist” but Kristen was made for the job. As a work partner she was ideal….reliable, responsible, creative, trustworthy, energetic, willing and hard working. As a presenter to the ODOT guys she was approachable, funny, fearless of public speaking and motivated many to make lasting positive changes in their lives (quit smoking, exercise, eat a balanced diet).
It wasn’t long before Kristen and I became good friends-she was ever supportive, loving, giving, compassionate, accepting and loyal. ..and to this day one of my closest friends. So years have gone by and we are both nurses and mothers now. Kristen in all her spit and fire got herself accepted to a nursing program and took it on (like she does the world). This isn’t surprising because I doubted Kristen is smart enough (she is one of the smartest people I know), but she had to travel across the state for most of the program. AND despite her not wanting to make a big deal (or any deal) about her CF…she did this while often struggling with managing her CF. I wish someone would write about what that looks like…b/c I only know from a distance. But what I do know of it…tires me out just thinking about the med management and daily treatments, pulmonary exercise, chronic and frequent infections, yearly (at least) “tune ups”.
Honestly…if you know Kristen….you just know what a truly amazing human being she is. If you don’t know her…I wish you did. Because once touched…you’ll be forever grateful for one heck of a ride. She will bless you with her love, her devotion, her humor and loyalty. Kristen is one of my dearest friends on earth. A heart full of gratitude for all we have shared.
However, lately I also feel sad. Sad that Kristen’s CF and the numerous complications related are taking a toll. Kristen’s pregnancy was remarkably easy (she sailed through the process in good health and spirits). But since, Kristen has struggled with what seems like one complication after another. There have been multiple back to back hospitalizations. She isn’t getting a break for months anymore, rather maybe hours of relief and comfort. Kirsten said to me the other day “time is precious”. There are now physical changes that prevent her from doing what she wants to do (take care of others) and be all she wants to be. This new normal is hard to accept…for all of us. Kirsten has survived and thrived…and will fight as long as she is able.
But I worry…there are so few adult patients with CF. She is often ahead of the medical system. She knows her body better than anyone…but is often treated (with (mostly) good intensions) like a pediatric patient and these treatments are not appropriate for the adult CF population. She is ahead of the science. And the medical community is uncomfortable when they don’t know what to do to “fix” things.
Time is precious. Time is all we have. Kristen embodies courage like no one else I have ever known. And she knows. So please listen to her.
So, if you’ll allow….I have one more story. When I was seven months pregnant, Kristen helped organize our baby shower. It happened that the festivity took place the day before my husband and I left for Vietnam for a month. We were traveling there to adopt and bring home our infant son (complicating “things”, I was also seven months pregnant).
Kristen is the type of friend who when we were gone, broke into our house. Can you imagine? It never occurred to me, but Krissy Bear (as my boys and I affectionately call her) organized (oh you know she can organize!) all of our baby stuff, gifts, cribs, bedding, the house, the kitchen…all of it. She put all the clothes in bins with cute little decorated labels. She set up the babies rooms. We came home with a new baby, only to have another one in less than a month.
I am still in awe of this selfless gift. It helped get us off on the right foot. A month later, when I was clearly in labor and we had no other family in town Kristen and Eric were the ones we called. They speed over and spent the night with Quincy until my out of town family arrived. She is that kind of friend…and in our hearts part of our larger family. Sometimes I think about the impact Kristen has had on my life. And I know I am a very small part of her expansive network of friends. It leaves me in awe, because I know there are many other people out there who have remarkable stories about Kirsten, too.
This site gives you a chance to cheer Kirsten on in whatever way feels right. If you don’t know Kristen, but share a friendship with someone else who means a great deal. Call her. Hug her. Send her a letter. Tell her how much the relationship means to you. Also, please consider supporting Kristen, Eric and Hattie so together they can make as much history as possible.