Molly Pam August 2007
As a 19-year-old sophomore at prestigious Stanford University, Molly Pam views her life as being full of possibilities. By all accounts, she possesses an impressive and unique ability to stay focused on the many positives in life, and she does not dwell the difficulties she faces daily due to the fact that she has cystic fibrosis (CF), with which she was diagnosed at age 10. From an early age, Molly learned the importance of motivating herself to triumph over the tougher times. Drawing from the strength and encouragement of her family, friends and CF care team. Molly has maintained a sense normalcy in her day-to-day life while being careful to adhere to her time-consuming health regimen.
As someone with CF myself, I can understand the particular challenges to staying compliant and consistent with your medical routine,” according to Somer Love, a Heroes of Hope Living with CF Panel Member. “Molly is inspirational to others with CF because she has been so successful in balancing numerous achievements in academics, CF activism and in community service, while being exemplary with her commitment to maintain her medical regimen. She is truly outstanding.”
Molly manages her CF by prioritizing her health and medical routines to fit into her hectic schedule full of schoolwork, travel and hanging out with friends. She follows a healthy diet and exercises on a regular basis, enjoying modern, jazz and ballet dancing, so that she can stay strong and healthy enough to participate in the activities she loves. Twice-daily, Molly undergoes an extensive medical routine that includes a mix of inhaled medications, vest therapy, steroids and vitamins. She also takes intravenous antibiotics two to four times per year.
Maintaining consistency in her medical treatments is especially important when Molly is traveling. Molly and her family love to travel and have visited Bali, Thailand, Mexico, Croatia and most recently embarked on an 8-day trip through the Grand Canyon. Throughout these adventures, she maintains her medical treatments to ensure that she has enough energy to enjoy all the sights, sounds and experiences that traveling has to offer. Molly can immediately detect the difference in her health on the rare occasion she skips a treatment, especially when hiking and putting in full days of travel. These instances reinforce Molly’s commitment to managing her medical routine so she can continue to travel and see the world.
Since beginning college in 2006, Molly has successfully become independently in charge of her medical regimen, and finds it easier to manage her health care in college than at home. Her small living space at college ensures that her health treatments are always close by, which serves as a constant reminder to stay compliant. She also finds that fitting in her medical treatments whenever she has a chance, rather than waiting until nighttime, helps to keep her compliant because it makes the therapy a priority rather than simply part of a routine.
Molly has become a strong advocate and a rising star in the CF community. She counts among her proudest accomplishments her work in helping to pass Senate Bill 1748, mandating the inclusion of CF in California’s newborn screening requirements. For Molly, it was a cause she was particularly passionate about since she wasn’t diagnosed and treated for CF until age 10. Early diagnosis is important in cystic fibrosis, as some treatments may potentially be able to delay lung funtion decline. In June 2006, Molly testified in support of the legislation in front of the California Senate Health and Appropriations Committee during the hearing of the bill, which the Governor of California signed in July of that year. During her senior year of high school, Molly also organized a team for her local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Great Strides walk, events which occur throughout the year across the United States to raise money for cystic fibrosis.
Molly’s community service achievements are matched by her academic success. Attending one of the best colleges in the country, Molly excels in her school work. She is interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary major in science technology, which combines engineering, biology and chemistry classes with the study of history and public policy in health care.
“Right now is a very exciting time in my life and I can’t wait to see what’s next,” Molly said. “Cystic fibrosis is just another challenge in my life that I strive to manage daily, and I will not let the disease stop me from reaching my many goals.”
Please note: The information contained these Heroes of Hope Living with CF award recipient biographies are not regularly updated. The information only represents the point in time when the Heroes of Hope recipient was honored.
