Duane Cinkscales was born with Cystic Fibrosis. He knew as a child that he would not live a long life. A person diagnosed today with CF is unlikely to reach the age of 40. When Dunae was diagnosed, the average life expectancy was 10 years. Dunae lived to be 44.
Even with the knowledge that his life would be short, Duane knew how to live. You may have heard the story of how he and a friend were driving you to a hospital where a mutual friend had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. On the drive up, Duane was asked if he wished his life could have been different, a life without CF. His answer was, ‘No’. “I have to be aware 24 hours a day that I have CF to stay alive, but I live every hour o every day like I don’t have CF.”Duane was always willing to tell his story. He didn’t overwhelm you with his circumstances; in fact, many did not even know of his battle with CF. He didn’t hesitate to share his challenges and encourage everyone to live life to the fullest.
Duane’s philosophy was captured in his signature phrase: “Every day is a good day!” The literal meaning for an adult with CF is clear. Every day that I’m still alive is a good day. Duane didn’t intend for these words to be focused on his condition. Instead, his message was that every day we have together is special. We should be kind to each other. We should be thankful for what we have, and we should be excited about what each day will bring.To help find a cure, please donate to the Duane Clinkscales Memorial Foundation (DONATE NOW)
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