I am proud to be one of this year’s New York Elite honorees. New York’s Elite is a group of leaders from the Metro NY area who are committed to professional growth and a fundraising and awareness campaign that benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and their mission to find a cure for CF.
 
My Personal Connection to CF
When I met my now-husband, Charlie, seven years ago, I had never even heard of cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening, progressive disease that impacts the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. When I was first introduced to CF, the more I learned, the scarier it got. It was a world of nebulizers for antibiotics, a big vest that sounded like a setting on my sound machine, and always a lot of coughing. Being healthy and feeling good was something I admittedly took for granted, and probably still do. Even when I tried to push things to the back of my mind, there was always another reminder that Charlie has CF. Then, so much changed. Charlie started taking Trikafta, a revolutionary medication specifically designed to treat the underlying cause of CF. While the changes were surely gradual, it seemed like things shifted overnight. The coughing started to go away, and so did all of the supplies. I was thrilled to see the 30 lb vest make its way to the garage.
 
Charlie has been taking Trikafta for six years now, and I smile every time I see the white pill case with the big orange and blue pills—a constant reminder of how incredible scientific advancements can be. Yet, even with these improvements, CF continues to present challenges. As we think about starting our own family, male infertility is yet another symptom of CF we will navigate together. Despite everything Charlie and his family have been through, I have never once heard Charlie complain. 
 
Join Me in the Fight for a Cure
While Trikafta has been nothing short of a miracle drug, it’s not a cure, and unfortunately, isn’t suitable for all patients. However, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation does an incredible job of investing towards research and drug development to not only improve the quality of life for those living with the disease, but ultimately find a cure. I know there are many worthy causes you could support and they are all deserving - but if everyone else with CF is a even little bit like Charlie, they are certainly worthy of our support. 
 
Dominique Fox is a Strategic Partnerships Manager for ISV Partnerships and Pursuits at Google Cloud.  She leads relationships with the company’s largest application and data provider partners. She is responsible for driving top partnership pursuits that are critical wins on the Google Cloud platform, focusing on go-to-market strategies, co-innovation, and thought leadership initiatives. Prior to this, Dom held roles at Citrix and SAP focusing on partnership development and channel strategy. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Drexel University and is proud to serve on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Future Leaders council.
 
Please consider joining us by making a donation to make a tangible difference in the lives of those living with Cystic Fibrosis.

To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org. Thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation!