Ready for Anything: Planning for Future Challenges

rebecca5521
Jun 19
4 min read

CF Senior Saturday Meet & Greet June 2025 Event Recap

At the CF Senior Saturday June meeting we had the privilege of hosting Karen W. Currie, Ph.D., a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and logistics expert with over three decades of federal service. Her extensive experience and insights were invaluable as we explored the theme of readiness in the face of life's unexpected challenges.

With a blend of military strategy and personal experience, Karen provided practical guidance on how individuals living with CF can prepare for a range of challenges—whether it's a hospital stay, a cross-country trip, or a natural disaster. Her advice was actionable, making it easier for the audience to put into practice.

"Create Once, Use Many Times"

Karen's core message is that organization is the foundation of readiness. By building systems that you can reuse—across situations—you reduce stress and make sure nothing critical slips through the cracks.

Organizing Personal & Medical Information

Karen shared the importance of documenting vital personal records such as:

Tax, legal, and insurance paperwork.
Emergency contacts
Medication and allergy lists
Medical history, surgeries, and provider info

A powerful resource discussed for the CF Community was the CF Navigator: Personal Health Toolkit—a customizable digital document that organizes everything from daily treatment routines to insurance details. You can download and update it over time, store it on your device, email it to yourself, and keep a printed copy for emergencies.

Karen also highlighted "Get It Together: Organize Your Records So Your Family Won't Have To" by Melanie Cullen Schultz—a practical guide for compiling everything your loved ones may need in a crisis.

Pro Tip: Only keep one copy of each record (digital or print), and clearly label the date to avoid confusion.

Hospital Stays & Doctor Visits

Whether it's a routine check-up or an emergency hospitalization, preparation makes a big difference. Karen recommends:

A packed go-bag with essentials (clothing, chargers, comfort items, copies of documents)
The Vial of Life system (place key medical info on the fridge for first responders)
A typed list of last-minute items you use daily (vest, refrigerated meds) to add before heading out

Travel Planning – Near or Far

Traveling with CF requires extra care and planning. Here are some things Karen highlighted:

A health summary letter from your doctor
Extra days' supply of medications
Power sources and refrigeration plans
Clearly labeled medications and medical gear
A list of CF Care Centers along your route or at your destination
Disinfection supplies (wipes, sanitizer, gloves, masks)
Use cloud storage to access essential documents anywhere
Keep your travel packing list typed and updated

"Even a trip to the mountains or a short drive out of town requires medical logistics!"

Preparing for Disasters & Emergencies

Karen walked us through disaster readiness—from hurricane evacuation to power outages. Check these websites for checklists and toolkits:

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF)
FEMA, Ready.gov, Red Cross, CDC
Local alerts (e.g., Weather Ready South Texas)
Emergency power: rechargeable batteries, portable power stations (e.g., EcoFlow Delta Max)
Don't rely solely on the internet—download resources now before website changes or outages occur.
Build your emergency kits or customize pre-built options.

Pro Tip: Do a "tech dry run" — plug in everything every six months before an emergency to make sure it all works!

Don't Forget About Pets!

Pets are family, too. Make sure your furry companions are part of your emergency plan:

Updated microchip information
Food, water, leash, crate, and medical records
Take a selfie with your pet to help with ID if separated

Helpful Reminders

Start with what you know—fill in gaps later
Duplicate info is OK (clinic, hospital, travel, emergency) if it helps with ease
Keep gas tanks and car batteries at least half full during severe weather seasons
Look for sales tax holidays and online coupons when buying supplies