Breathing Deeply: My Life With Cystic Fibrosis

We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.--Buddy the Elf

I tend to vacillate between craving salty snacks and sweet snacks. Pretzels are by far my favorite salty snack, and ice cream (especially if there are brownies with it) works well to satisfy my sweet tooth. Even if the weather outside is below freezing, I'll still want ice cream. It doesn't even have to be fancy ice cream. As boring as it sounds, vanilla is my preference. My dad and I are probably the only people I know who would go to Baskin-Robbins and order vanilla ice cream.

For several years my mom never bought ice cream for me as a snack because it was on the list of "forbidden fatty things" that CF doctors had advised us to steer clear from. Ice cream, fast food, anything that was buttery or greasy--even milk that wasn't treated with acidophilus-- was a no-no. Oreos were basically my only allowable junk food item. Then one day, the tables turned. The cystic fibrosis specialists (doctors and nutritionists) had discovered that in order to gain weight, it was advisable to take in as much fat as I could handle!

This revelation came when I was in 5th grade and had just begun participating in the CF Team Clinics. The news was so astounding! All the foods that we previously had labeled as my enemies were now my allies in my fight to gain weight. I remember the first time I ever had a hot fudge sundae. On the way home from the doctor's office that glorious Monday, we stopped at Denny's. I ordered a two-scoop hot fudge sundae. How beautiful it was in that tall soda-shoppe glass! The cherry on the top was swathed in whipped cream, and seemed to glisten as it waved its triumphant little stem. I gripped the long handled spoon with a sense of awe and dug into my dessert.

I've been hooked ever since.

In the last year or so I've developed my own personal formula for "the perfect sundae." **WARNING** those of you who have CFRD (Cystic fibrosis related diabetes) may want to make sure you've got a good handle on your blood glucose levels before you attempt to try this dessert.


Assemble all the above ingredients in your favorite bowl. I like to wash it all down with a glass of whole milk or Instant Breakfast.