Amy

Amy’s journey with PCD started with ear infections – a lot of them. As a baby, she suffered from persistent ear infections, and no one knew why. Her family was told she would require countless procedures, but the cause of the constant infections was still unknown. 

After pursuing a second opinion, Amy received a confirmed diagnosis of PCD. “I coughed and blew my nose more than other kids, which sometimes lead to teasing, but I was lucky to have friends who supported me and teachers who mostly understood. I didn’t experience severe medical issues until high school when I became very sick. I had neglected to take care of myself, being a headstrong teenager with a hefty dose of denial about my disease.” 

During the time that I was recovering from a severe lung infection I began to wonder why PCD patients couldn’t receive care specific to our illness. I wondered why there wasn’t more research on the treatments for PCD.”

Amy’s experience led her to pursue her interest in science, particularly biology. She worked in Dr. Ostrowski’s lab at UNC Chapel Hill studying PCD before attending graduate school where her study of lung disease continued.

Now she uses the experiences she gained in scientific research to teach STEM activities to children and advocates for herself and others with disabilities and chronic illness within her workplace and community.