Kristen Entwistle June 2009
A sophomore at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, Kristen Entwistle, 19, is an incredibly hard worker in all aspects of her life, whether it is in academics, athletics or through volunteer work. Diagnosed shortly after birth with cystic fibrosis (CF), Kristen faces her chronic illness with the same positive attitude and determination with which she approaches her life goals, fitting the disease, and the time-consuming medical routine that accompanies it, into her active collegiate lifestyle.
Kristen began her freshman year at Gordon College in Wenham, MA as a Biology major, but soon realized that she also was interested in chemistry and is currently pursuing a double major in both sciences. Though it is a challenging academic load, Kristen enjoys the challenge and hopes to pursue pharmaceutical research after graduation.
When she is not going to class or studying, Kristen can often be found in the pool, practicing with the Division III Gordon College swim team. Kristen has been swimming since she was in the 7th grade and loves the competitive nature of the sport as well as the personal connection she makes with her teammates.
“Swimming is such a commitment, but the effort and time is well-worth it,” Kristen says. “And having CF, I can see that when you put in the work for treatments or practice or whatever, it’s worth it. For me, swimming is not just about getting really good times; it’s also about making friends and feeling good from exercising.”
Kristen is also willing to make the 10-hour-a-week time commitment to practicing and attending swim meets because she recognizes the physical benefits of swimming. Kristen notices the difference in her health during the periods when she is not swimming and believes that staying active through swimming helps her have more energy and makes it easier to breathe.
In addition to swimming, Kristen knows that diligence to her medical routine is the key to staying healthy and maintaining her active lifestyle. Kristen’s daily routine includes taking CF vitamins, enzymes to aid digestion, inhaled medications and antibiotics, as well as undergoing chest percussive therapy twice a day. Like some other CF patients, Kristen also has CF-related diabetes and must take insulin and monitor her blood sugar on a regular basis. Despite her demanding schedule, Kristen understands the importance of getting enough sleep and aims to get at least eight hours every night.
In her home state of Ohio, Kristen has been an active member of Great Strides, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s national walk event, leading a team at her local high school for several years. Last year, Kristen developed a new Great Strides location at Gordon College where she rallied a team of 40 friends and classmates to the event, and together raised over $1,400 for Cystic Fibrosis research.
“Kristen is an incredibly focused and intelligent young woman,” says Stacy VandenBranden, Heroes of Hope™ Living with CF panel member. “I’m very impressed that, in addition to being successful in academics and sports, she is able to take such good care of her health and be active in the CF community. She is a great example to other people with CF of all ages.”
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.
