Never a Straight Line

By Ethan Patt

Memoir is about my life living with a chronic illness and how it has impacted my outlook on life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ethan Patt
• Release date: Apr 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9781963764925

Book preview

Never A Straight Line

By

Ethan Patt

Copyright © 2024

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author of the book, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial purposes permitted by copyright law.

About The Author

I was born on April 25, 1995, and raised in Houston, TX. I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at three months old. I graduated from Tulane University in 2017. I currently reside in Austin, TX. The primary reason for writing Never a Straight Line is to tell my story and spread positivity amongst people, given the world is in turmoil. If I can keep my head high, anyone can.

Author’s Dedication

I am dedicating this book to those who struggle with chronic illness, mental health challenges, and anxiety/depression. I am here to tell you that everyone has their own issues, and it is okay to ask for help. I know it is not easy, but I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason.

Acknowledgment

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me throughout my life and played a vital role in shaping the person I am today. If you or anyone you know needs help, please don't hesitate to reach out before it's too late.

Contents

About The Author

Author’s Dedication

Acknowledgment

Chapter 1 It was Never Easy

Chapter 2  Appreciating little things in life

Chapter 3  Outlook of Life

Chapter 4 Blessing in Disguise

Chapter 5  The only thing you can control – You

Chapter 6  It is Never a Straight Line

Chapter 7  Unwind Your Mind

Chapter 8   The Grass Is Always Greener

Chapter 9    Defying The Odds

Chapter 10  Mental And Physical Health

Chapter 1

It was Never Easy

I was looking outside the window; the luscious green grass and the tall, bushy tree in the backyard were calling my name. We had a big backyard, and a red brick fence was around it. Houston showed its sunny side quite a few times. My brother was playing football. I was eyeing the ball that my father had bought for me. My desirable eyes were looking outside and waiting anxiously to go and play along with my brother.

I could hear the voice coming from the back, but my mind couldn’t stop thinking about playing. I came back to realization when my mother called my name, ‘Ethan… Ethan!’ I stopped gazing outside and responded to my mother,

‘Yes, mama.’

She said lovingly,

‘Will You come here, please.’ ‘Once you do your breathing treatment, we can play together.’

She politely said to me.

‘How about we do puzzles together?’

I spoke with a disappointed face,

‘NO, I want to play with Wesley.’

Of course, it was hard to confine a four-year-old boy inside the house while his brother was playing with his favorite football. A child’s innocent mind couldn’t comprehend the serious medical facts about chronic diseases.

My mother was giving instructions to Sofia, our housekeeper,

‘Please, engage him in some games.’

She added,

‘He needs to do his breathing treatment right now.’

I knew in my mind that something was wrong with me, but the situation was inscrutable back then.

One thing was conspicuous: I was different from the others. It was evident that I couldn’t do some of the things that other people did. I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when I was three months old, and so up till now, I don’t know life without it.

Keep in mind there are approximately 30,000 Americans who live with CF and around 70,000 people in the world.[1] Approx. 1 in 30 Americans is a carrier. It is safe to say the odds are against us, who are Cystic Fibrosis patients.

How would a child know about the disease, which has severe consequences? I didn’t know what Cystic Fibrosis was. Most people who continue to live with old health issues may identify it as a problem once they experience a particular moment that sets them apart from others.

This realization hit my senses when I was around ten years old. I went to an event with my parents. I was excited to go there since I have always been an extrovert. As I reached there, I realized that I was the only kid there, and no other kids were invited. I could tell that something was a little strange about me being there. I was the only one who felt out of place at the event and couldn't understand why. At that time, I couldn’t wrap my head around the reason behind it.

My inquisitiveness asked me to search more about it and why I was known as the Cystic Fibrosis Gulf Coast Chapter ambassador. I discovered more about myself and my issues through self-help.

After learning about the consequences of not taking medications on time due to my CF symptoms, I started taking better care of myself.

As I matured, I soon came to realize that my level of athleticism was quite different from that of others. So, I had to avoid those sports that have the probability of collisions with other people, like football, soccer, and basketball, but this didn’t stop me from playing any game. So, I started playing golf, baseball, and tennis.

I also engaged myself in other activities like swimming, running, and biking, which allowed me to be active and alive. Knowing the fact that I have CF, I was different, but it made me realize that everyone is different. Everyone has their own issues, and mine just happens to be a chronic illness.

Of course, there were moments when I felt terrible about myself. I questioned myself several times why this happened to me and why I couldn’t do such things as others. My friends were getting stronger than me, and in general, I had a hard time doing so many other things, but I made up my mind;

‘You can’t choose who you are or where you come from, but you can choose how you live your life.’

Being born with this illness has made me a more mature and sensible person. Over time, I learned a lot about my condition and adjusted my life accordingly. I understand the consequences of not taking my medicines, so I made a conscious effort