GIRL DREW
GET POSTS BY EMAIL!
-
Saltier than average
This week I learned a fun disease-related fact (oxymoron?)—one I can’t believe I’ve never heard in my lifetime with cystic fibrosis. I’ve written before that people with CF are saltier than average. To this day, the sweat test remains the most reliable method for diagnosing CF. Through a combination of chemicals and electric stimulation, sweat…
-
Mind your Ps and Js
This weekend, I walked the dogs in my llama pajama pants, which is one of my new favorite activities. I used to change into more presentable pants to save face in front of the cars that might pass by as I walked, but that chapter of my life has closed. And, BOY, is it a…
-
Marked Safe from Water Aerobics
When I joined the Y last year, I was most excited about the pool. I hoped to relive my swim team days, but I also wanted to try out water aerobics as I rehabbed my leg post-Rollerblading Incident of 2024. My ability to get in the water was first postponed by [another] leg surgery, then…
-
Let love win
I’ve started to write countless posts this week—in my head, on my phone, on the computer. But every time I try to put my thoughts into words, it feels insufficient. Plus, no matter how I phrase things, I fear I might add to the growing sense of division, which is basically the antithesis of why…
-
![Oh, [S]Nap!](https://drewdotson.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20220221_161858.jpg)
Oh, [S]Nap!
This was originally written January 5, 2024, in case you were wondering if Noodle had been resurrected. I figure I’ll start sharing some of my writing that would otherwise go to die on my computer. How lovely is an afternoon nap, especially during the wintertime? I love cozying on the couch with the dogs, pilfering…
-
Catch me if I can
Each morning, I fill a mug with water and microwave it for my soon-to-be peppermint tea. As the water heats, I gather my nebulized meds. I move my therapy vest to my location of choice—lately in front of the fireplace. I grab my journal and a pen, then head back to the kitchen to prepare…
-
Decisions, Decisions
“I make good decisions,” I announced yesterday, surprised as the words left my mouth. I often categorize myself as indecisive, so I was taken aback by my own declaration. When I truly analyze the past, few bad decisions come to mind—except purchasing rollerblades from Amazon. I don’t think I make choices that leave people asking,…
-
2.0.2.6
Welcome to 2026! If you know me, you know I loooove me some goal setting, some personal development, some psychoanalysis. The feeling of a fresh start excites me. Many nights (since coming off Trikafta), I go to sleep giddy about waking up the next morning—excited about what the day will hold. I love sleeping, but…
-
I’ll be home for Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas when I finally broke freeTo finish healing at home with the help of IVs;I plopped on the couch, dogs wrapped in my legs,And waited for Santa to deliver my meds. Well. That was the least Christmassy Christmas ever, but I’m okay with it. My virus-like symptoms began in mid November,…
-
Ho-ho-hospital
I just spent my seventh night in the hospital. I went to sleep when my IV antibiotic finished just after 11:00 p.m. Then the nurse came in to draw blood at midnight. Then the tech came in to get my vital signs at 1:00 a.m. Then the nurse came in to hook me up to…
-
Marry Christmas
A decade ago today, I woke up in a cabin in Blue Ridge, Georgia, ready to become Ramón’s wife. Typing “Ramón’s wife” still feels odd because, in many ways, it’s as though I never got to fulfill that role. It’s also weird because I tend to avoid titles, meaning I’d never really called him my…
-
Let it slow
I’ve been meaning to post for the last several weeks, and I’m finally here. I was mostly busy judging the writing ideas that came to mind and, ya know, getting in my own way—something I think most of us can relate to. I’ve also been pretty sick for the past several weeks.
-
You heard it here
Guess who was on a podcast?! Me! I recently had the opportunity to be a guest on Pam Baker’s podcast, The Lost Love Stories. Pam is a legend in the CF community. I feel cheesy saying that, like I’m trying to puff her up, but I mean it. Pam has two sons with CF, both…
-
Doggone it
Yesterday marked one month without Noodle. I felt her absence strongly on Tuesday when I returned home from a trip. Often, reuniting with the dogs is the highlight of coming home from vacation. But on a shuttle at the airport, it struck me that Noodle wouldn’t be part of the welcoming committee for the first…
-
Docu-Drama
One night last week, I decided to watch a documentary while I worked on a jigsaw puzzle. If that sounds nerdy, I agree—and I own every bit of it. I browsed titles, looking for one that sounded inspiring. I love all types of docs, but I wanted a boost that night. I landed on one…