Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at five weeks old in 1975, Meghan lived each day to its fullest, defying the odds of survival to experience the greatness and love of family, friends, and life. The goal of her treatment was to ease the severity of symptoms and slow the progress of the disease. Each day Meghan completed a combination of therapies: airway clearance, inhaled medicines, and pancreatic supplements. There were multiple hospitalizations. One day Meghan would be an inpatient and the next day playing third base on the softball field.

Meghan graduated from The MacDuffie School in Springfield and attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, before transferring to Elms College in Chicopee, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. Meghan completed the Web Design and Development Certificate Program at Boston University and worked toward her MBA at UMass/Boston and Framingham State. Upon completion of her marketing internship for the Boston Celtics, Meghan worked full-time in marketing, real estate, and property management in the Boston area.

As a child, Meghan was always athletically inclined: dance, gymnastics, softball, skiing, swimming, and equestrian. Meghan played varsity field hockey, softball, and basketball and was the goalie on her college field hockey teams. She loved to sail, hike, bike, and work out. Meghan never let CF define her. She was in charge of her life and CF sometimes just caused a bump in the road. Seeing the glass half full not only made Meghan happier, it made her healthier.

Meghan traveled to Ireland, Mexico, Morocco, Switzerland, Poland, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and attended the University of Turin in northern Italy. She visited St. Lucia, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, Paradise Island, Antigua, and the Dominican Republic, but her heart belonged to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

Meghan married and settled in Shrewsbury. She became an incredible Mom to her son. Meghan had an infectious laugh, a warm smile, and a playful sense of humor. She loved life and people, inspiring family and friends by her courage, strength, and determination. She coached and tutored and mentored. Meghan remained active to the end and had plans to go to Martha’s Vineyard with college friends for an extended weekend on the final day that she was hospitalized. Instead, she was admitted to the ICU at Brigham and Women’s in Boston where she died 78 days later.

Meghan’s loss changed all of us. We would never be the same. Life would be different. We remember Meghan in ways that make differences for others. That is how Meghan would want to be remembered.