Parenting with Cystic Fibrosis 

Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) has been a part of Jacklyn’s life for as long as she can remember. Both she and her older sister were born with CF, and growing up with the disease became her normal. What Jacklyn never imagined was navigating pregnancy, motherhood, and raising children—one of whom also has CF—while managing her own health. 

In October 2022, Jacklyn discovered she was unexpectedly pregnant. For the most part, her pregnancy progressed smoothly until December, when she contracted influenza and was hospitalized over Christmas and New Year’s. At the time, she was around 14 weeks pregnant and required IV antibiotics for five weeks. It was a physically and emotionally challenging period, but with the support of her care team, she persevered. 

At around 20 weeks, an ultrasound revealed that the baby had an echogenic bowel, and the family was advised to pursue further testing. Jacklyn’s then-boyfriend was tested for the CF carrier gene, and about a month later, they learned that he was a carrier. Suddenly, the possibility that their baby could have CF became very real, with a 50/50 chance. 

The remainder of the pregnancy went smoothly, and in June 2023, Jacklyn gave birth to a baby girl. When her daughter was one month old, she underwent sweat chloride testing and genetic blood tests. Walking into the Pediatric CF clinic felt surreal for Jacklyn—it brought back memories of when she herself had been the patient there. When the results confirmed that her daughter also had CF, the care team at the Edmonton Pediatric CF Clinic offered words that stayed with her: “It’ll be okay—she has a very experienced mama, and you know how it feels.” 

Despite her diagnosis, Jacklyn’s daughter has been an incredibly healthy child. In her first year of life, she encountered several viruses—including COVID-19 at just three months old, influenza, and RSV—yet she never required hospitalization. 

Just before her daughters first birthday, Jacklyn learned she was pregnant again. This second pregnancy was much smoother, with no hospitalizations, though it came with emotional challenges of its own. Throughout the pregnancy, Jacklyn worried that her second baby might also have CF. At 26 weeks, she was referred for a fetal echocardiogram due to heart irregularities and soon learned she was expecting another girl. 

Her second daughter was born in January 2025 and spent two weeks in the NICU due to pulmonary hypertension and additional cardiac testing. While in the NICU, genetic testing was also completed. Just before discharge, Jacklyn received reassuring news: her youngest daughter did not have CF. 

In July 2025, Jacklyn’s first daughter began  Trikafta—a milestone that brought renewed hope for her future. 

Life with CF, both as a patient and as a parent, is full of appointments and ongoing care. It can be overwhelming at times, but it is also marked by love, resilience, and strength. Jacklyn says she wouldn’t change it for anything. This is her family’s life with CF—and one they continue to face together, every step of the way.