Page 6 - CF Roundtable - Winter/Spring 2026

FOCUS TOPIC: RETIREMENT By: Jerry Cahill
REFLECTIONS
ON RETIREMENT
Retirement (term) is defined as an action or fact of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work.
I’m not sure I can truly comprehend that word—or
that action. To me, “retirement” feels like the end,
like being put out to pasture. But my life has never
been about endings—it’s always been about just
one more day.
Living with cystic fibrosis since childhood and
surviving three organ transplants, I’ve never taken
life for granted. I’ve always focused on what I call a
living list, not a bucket list. My goal has never been
to stop—it’s been to keep going, to keep working,
to keep inspiring. Work, for me, isn’t just survival—
it’s what gives me purpose.
organ transplants (lungs, liver, and kidney). Along
the way, I’ve also had a hip and knee replacement.
But through it all, I’ve never stopped moving
forward.
Today, I proudly continue my work at the Boomer
Esiason Foundation as Director of Team Boomer,
where I encourage a healthy lifestyle through
exercise, advocate for organ donation, raise
awareness about cystic fibrosis, and inspire others
through speaking, fundraising, and coaching. Every
day that I can be active, engaged, and connected
with people, I feel truly alive.
My passion remains the same: to LIVE, BREATHE & SUCCEED,
while encouraging others in the CF and rare disease communities
to embrace the power of exercise and perseverance.
Growing up in the 1960s with cystic fibrosis, I
was told the average life expectancy was 16.
Then 21. Then 25. Today, I’m 69 years old and
will turn 70 on June 27, 2026—a milestone I
never thought possible. I’ve made it here through
discipline, exercise, positive thinking, compliance
with treatments, and an unshakable belief in
living fully.
My journey has been long: diagnosed at age 11,
countless hospitalizations, a career in the fashion
industry, years coaching pole vaulters, and three
For me, there is no finish line in sight. My passion
remains the same: to LIVE, BREATHE & SUCCEED,
while encouraging others in the CF and rare disease
communities to embrace the power of exercise
and perseverance.
So no, I don’t see myself ever “retiring.” Instead, I’ll
keep lacing up, keep showing up, and keep running
the race of life. Because this isn’t a sprint—it’s a
marathon. And I’m still going strong, one mile at a
time.
6 CF Roundtable Winter/Spring 2026