Outspoken 17-Year-Old Girl With Cystic Fibrosis Offers Advice on the Best Way to Interact With Someone Who Is Sick

Claire Wineland, the wonderfully outspoken 17-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis who talked about the benefits of being in a hospital, now offers straightforward advice about how to best interact with a person who has a chronic illness by recalling her own awkward situations in a humorous way.

It’s okay to be like “what’s wrong with you”. …Don’t worry, we know that there is something wrong with us. I feel like a lot of people think that we don’t realize that we’re different. If we don’t want to talk about it, we’ll say no, it’s kind of personal. …This seems like total common sense, but if you’re around someone who is on oxygen or in a wheelchair because if they’re in a wheelchair they have other problems with the rest of their body, DO NOT light a cigarette. And yes, vapes count. Just, don’t anything – it’s not smart and really, really damaging.

submitted via Laughing Squid Tips

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.