My name is Nikki Melchiorre. I am 27 years old and have cystic fibrosis. This is my story of being homeless.
Having cystic fibrosis has taught me a lot medically, physically, spiritually, and even emotionally. However, the biggest thing that living with CF has taught me is strength.
When someone hears that I have CF, they often say the same types of things. “Damn, that sucks.” “You poor thing.” “I'm sorry, hun, can I give you a hug?” “You look well, what are your lung function numbers?”
When I hear comments like these, I have mixed emotions. I’m sad that people make assumptions about my health because I appear healthy on the outside. However, hearing these things also makes me happy in a weird way. One of my biggest accomplishments is making it to 2025, and without Trikafta, I wouldn’t have made it to this point in my life.
I have been homeless more than once. I didn't choose to be homeless — no one really chooses to be homeless. The first time I was three months pregnant with my first set of twins. The father of my children and I had to get out of the rain, so he found an abandoned house and we went in there. I had to learn how to adapt, and I learned to wash clothes in buckets, tubs, and sinks. We also ate from trash cans. We did what we had to do to survive.
Trying to manage my cystic fibrosis while I was homeless was not easy. The first time I was homeless, I wasn't really able to do my treatments. However, I could continue taking Trikafta, which significantly helped me.
You're probably wondering why we didn't go to any shelters. Well, to answer that question, we tried to, and they would take my partner in a heartbeat, no questions asked. However, with my cystic fibrosis, they said they couldn't keep my medicine cold, and they couldn't guarantee that my medical vest and my nebulizer wouldn't be stolen, and then I would have to call the insurance to see what they could do.
I was on the street last year, three weeks before New Year's. I had lost my apartment and was staying in a freezing garage. It was -1 degrees and snowing outside. Even though I had two heaters, it wasn't enough to keep me warm. But having access to electricity allowed me to do my nebulizer treatments. Once again, I had to eat out of trash cans and go dumpster diving. I also went to the food banks, which helped.
I remember having to make the worst phone call to my dad to tell him what was going on, that I loved him, and that this could be my last Christmas and New Year's. After I hung up with him, he immediately called my uncle, who agreed to take me in. I stayed there until New Year's Eve, then moved into my new place the following day.
My biggest motivation in life has been both myself and my kids. Whenever life gets hard, I look at my children and remind myself not to give up. I'm doing everything I can for them because I want my kids to grow up saying that no matter what life throws at their mother, mommy never gave up and kept pushing forward. I want them to remember that when life gets tough, no matter what happens, they should keep going and rise like a phoenix out of the ashes, above the obstacles life throws at them.
Before I had kids, when life got hard, I would cry and feel depressed. But then, I started to believe in myself. I always believe that no storm lasts forever. I have always believed that I had a purpose in life, no matter what it was. So, I had to keep pushing; I had to keep believing that hope was possible.
No matter how many obstacles we go through and overcome, everything that was meant to break us didn't because we kept pushing and reminding ourselves that we can't give up now because if we did, then everything we ever went through and overcame was for nothing. We have a purpose in life.
In my eyes, CF stands for Courageous and Fearless. One day it will stand for Cure Found.
Interested in sharing your story? The CF Community Blog wants to hear from you.
