Alive at 25: How I'm Beating Cystic Fibrosis

by Andy Lipman

Afflicted with cystic fibrosis since birth, doctors told Andy Lipman's parents he'd be lucky to reach age 25. Over the years, however, Andy has found strength and determination in his athletic pursuits, has surprised his doctors, and defied the medical odds. On his 25th birthday, he picked up a pen and began to write his story. Now 28, healthy, happy, and very much alive, Andy shares his bittersweet story with humor and wit.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 30, 2001

About the author

Andy Lipman has cystic fibrosis, but cystic fibrosis will never have him. On his 38th birthday, Andy passed the current median life expectancy for people with cystic fibrosis (CF). Now at 45, his life expectancy now exceeds the expected. Andy is a positive role model, who defied all odds to become a college graduate, Olympic-torch bearer, runner, author, husband, and father. He is dedicated to finding a cure for this genetic disease.

Andy’s fourth book, The CF Warrior Project: 65 Stories of Triumph Against Cystic Fibrosis, celebrates the people from around the globe who, like him, persevere and live life the fullest every day even though they have a terminal, invisible disease. The book is available now on Amazon.

Andy has two written memoirs telling his story battling the long odds of a CF diagnosis: Alive at 25: How I’m Beating Cystic Fibrosis and The Drive at 35: The Long Road to Beating Cystic Fibrosis. In addition, he wrote the novel A Superhero Needs No Cape about a young person who grows up wanting to play Major League Baseball, but he must do so while fighting cystic fibrosis.

Not just relating stories of survivors, Andy is also dedicated to finding a cure for this invisible, terminal disease. He and his family founded the Wish for Wendy Foundation in memory of his older sister, who died from CF after only 16 days of life. As of 2019, the foundation has contributed nearly $4,000,000 to help raise awareness for cystic fibrosis and fund research for a cure.

Andy has run the 10-kilometer Peachtree Road Race every year since 1997. He also runs and adheres to a rigorous daily workout and medical treatment routine. He has also finished a triathlon and completed the difficult ninety-day workout program P90X. An even greater achievement occurred in 2006 when Lipman became a father, a miracle for any male with cystic fibrosis because they are nearly all infertile. The Lipman’s second child, also conceived with the help of IVF, was born in 2008.

Follow Andy and The CF Warrior Project on Twitter: @CFWarriorProj; Instagram: @CFWarriorProject; YouTube: CF Warrior Project; and Facebook: Andy-Lipman.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want to award this higher stars as support for a fellow CFer, but this really is (barely) a 3-star book. I hate to be harsh, but the stories jumped back and forth and were very disjointed, and this was much shorter than I expected it to be.

I never really got a feel for Andy's true voice, and I couldn't relate to a lot of what he said. There were a few parts I was nodding my head in agreement, but the rest of the time he seemed so active and healthy and I just couldn't relate. Maybe he just didn't talk about his hospitalizations, but most of my CF story if I wrote one would have to include countless hospitalizations and tune-ups so it seemed odd to not have any mentioned. He is also a lot older than me, so I couldn't relate to his childhood at all, since the meds changed so much by the time I was born.

All in all, I'm glad I read this, though. This is the only book about CF that I'm aware of, other than the "Alex" book that I don't think I have the strength to ever read. (Maybe someday….) I wish it was a subject that was talked about more so people didn't always ask me "Cystic fi-what?"

[Kayla English · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspirational. If you haven't read it, you should. It helps raise awareness about CF!

[Eldon English · Rating 4 out of 5]

anyone who has cystic fibrosis, or cares about anyone with this disease needs to read this book