I thought the piece was beautifully written, and not just because I have a bit of a soft spot for fellow Columbia alums. On one hand, I think Sevenstars has a point that there's another side of this story, though I probably wouldn't go so far as to call it selfishness. The author, in my opinion, is excited to find someone with whom she can share her experiences, and who makes her feel as though her CF is "normal" because it is the norm for him as well. Yes, apparently this turned out not to be the type of earth-shattering love that makes one walk though fire (or cepacia) and give up everything...although perhaps it might have been and she wanted at least the chance to find out...but that doesn't mean it was just a "fling." All of us come to this board to find others who can listen to and relate to our anxieties, fears, and triumphs with CF. This author found that in someone she could phsyically touch and be close to, and though it did present a dange (and ultimately a danger not worth the risk), it also provided a potential source of healing. How many times have we all sat in a crowded public place and endured stares while we coughed, racing out to the bathroom and missing the best part of the movie just to avoid humiliation? I read this article as giving voice to some of those emotions and offering a very moving testimony to the need for empathy and companionship.
Ultimately, I think it's silly to judge other people for the choices they make, especially in matters of who to love and spend their lives with, but it was nice to see an intelligent young woman with CF telling the truth in as public a forum as the NYT!
