Emily Schaller January 2007
Emily Schaller is a true "rock star." Whether she is playing drums in her all-girl band, Hellen, acting in local productions or hanging out with friends and family, her zest for life is evident to everyone who meets her. Emily, whose friends and family describe as "hilarious" and "a true performer," looks forward to one day becoming professionally involved in the entertainment industry. And from Emily's appearance, it's impossible to tell that she has suffered from the genetic lung disease cystic fibrosis (CF) since her diagnosis at 18-months-old or that she spends several hours each day proactively managing her disease so that she can maintain her active lifestyle.
Although living with CF has been an uphill battle, 25-year-old Emily refuses to let anything slow her down. She was selected as the January 2007 Hero of Hope for her dedication to proactively maintaining her medical treatment regimen and inspiring others through her diligent efforts. To do her part in helping researchers one day find a cure, Emily commits a good portion of her time to raising awareness of CF and funds for CF research. To help her cause, Emily organizes an annual CF benefit concert called Just Let Me Breathe that is produced and promoted by her Rock CF Foundation. With Emily's enthusiasm and support, the event has raised $50,000 for CF research over the past four years, and Emily looks forward to raising more funds each year.
Emily approaches the management of her disease with the same tenacity that she devotes to raising CF awareness. She spends six to eight weeks in the hospital each year for CF medical care and dedicates several hours each day to following her lengthy treatment regimen which includes chest physical therapy, inhaled medications, antibiotics, and digestive enzymes. She strongly believes in a "mind, body and soul" approach to staying healthy, and makes sure to get plenty of exercise and follow a nutritious diet. Emily is proud of her ability to adhere to her health regimen - always making time for the lengthy routine despite how busy she is living life - and encourages others with CF to do the same.
Emily's drive and optimism seem to have no bounds, and she is very enthusiastic about what her future holds. "When I was diagnosed, kids weren't living long enough to graduate from high school. It was a childhood killer. Since then, the life expectancy has gone up by 20 years. New treatments come out and people are living into their 70s. I just keep on rocking."
Please note: The information contained in these Heroes of Hope™ Living with CF award recipient biographies is not regularly updated. The information only represents the point in time when the Heroes of Hope recipient was honored.
