Make It Count
Make It Count
Authors & Illustrator
Author:
Coby
James
Gent
Co-Author:
Casey
Leigh
Gent
Illustrator:
Page Publishing
Honorable Mention
Nonfiction > Memoirs - Personal
Description
I was born with a genetic disease called cystic fibrosis (CF). After
the age ten, the disease started to take over my body. I was put in
a wheelchair and on liquid oxygen. My lungs finally gave out. My
family and I moved to the University of North Carolina so I could
have a double-lung transplant. In August 1992 I got new lungs.
I am not going to lie, there were many times when I thought
I would die fighting for my last breath on a vent in a hospital.
For years I put on a show for people. My smile would cover the
physical pain my frail body was going through. I did not want pity,
so I faked it. I feel that, since I have a shorter life span than most, I
have to live every day like it is my last. I am not mad at CF because
I believe God gave it to me to see what I would do with it. I just
want to touch and inspire people so when I am gone, they will
talk about me for a long time. I have done more at twenty-nine
sick than most fifty-year-olds do healthy.
—Coby James Gent