Growing up with Chronic Illness: The Experience of Growing up with Cystic Fibrosis

The article describes the experience of growing up with a chronic illness. A hermeneutic-phenomenologic design based on van Manen's technique and set in Watson's theory of human caring was used to explore the meaning of the experience for 10 adults with cystic fibrosis. Themes that emerged included being different, "dont't call me terminal," and will power and faith. Implications for holistic nursing practice are included.