| Tiffany's insights are based on a long history of medical problems and experiences. Here is a brief overview of her extensive illness journey. |
Tiffany Christensen has lived with illness from the time she was born. At 6 months of age, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a genetic
illness that primarily affected her lungs.
After a sickly childhood, Tiffany began her acquaintance with in-patient hospital care at the age of 12. In addition to traditional
treatments, she began to experiment with many different healing modalities around the age of thirteen. She continued to practice many
of these techniques throughout her various illnesses. In spite of extensive ongoing treatments and procedures—at home and in various
hospitals throughout the United States—at twenty-three years of age, Tiffany was placed on the list for a double lung transplant at UNC
Memorial Hospital. Waiting a total of five long and difficult years, during which, her lung function dropped to 18% capacity, she received
her first set of donor lungs in April of 2000. She celebrated her 27th birthday a few months later.
Tiffany enjoyed a level of health and energy she had never known until May of 2002 when she was diagnosed with chronic rejection.
There were few treatment possibilities and Tiffany grew gravely ill, even more so than before her first transplant. Her lung function was
down to 10%of capacity and was told she only had months to live. Though, as her outer body weakened, her inner journey opened and
she found unexpected gifts of insight, perspective, humor and strength. She began to know an inner peace she had never thought possible.
Due to a series of wonderful and unusual events, Tiffany was able to have a rarely performed second lung transplant just in the nick of
time.
After the surgery, Tiffany awoke with a clear awareness of being “called” to work with those touched by illness and death. As soon as her
recovery allowed, she trained as a Hospice Volunteer and began developing her talks and workshops. Combining her experiences with
Western medicine, alternative therapies, various meditation techniques and coping/thriving mechanisms she has developed herself,
Tiffany has created programs that are unique, thought-provoking and inspirational. For those interested in seeking private guidance,
Tiffany also provides illness coaching through email or over the phone.
Tiffany believes that, given her life’s experiences, it is her duty to lend a hand to those struggling to find their way through the world of
illness. Since 2005, she has participated in many exciting speaking events, enjoyed coaching those in the medical maze and finished her
book, Sick Girl Speaks! Starting in September of 2007, Tiffany left her job as a Veterinary Bereavement Coordinator and began working
towards her goals full time. In January of 2008, Sick Girl Speaks Inc. was created and Tiffany was excited to begin working with Project
Compassion on a year-long grant project. In April of 2008, Tiffany became certified in the "Respecting Choices" La Crosse model of
Advance Care Planning Facilitation. She is also certified to teach this model to those who wish to be facilitators.
Throughout 2008, Tiffany will be leading many workshops on Patient Advocacy, Advance Directives and Organ/Tissue Donation. She will
continue talking with medical and nursing students about the patient perspective and the role of professionals as advocate. Tiffany's
writings will be seen in various newsletters and magazines including Boom!, CF Roundtable, and Airways. Listen for her on the popular
national NPR radio show, "The People's Pharmacy." Her workshop, "10 Opportunities of Illness" will be hosted by Duke Continuing
Studies and her one woman show, "The Permanent Me" will be performed at the CFRI Conference in The Bay Area. These and many
other exciting projects are the beginning of a promising new voice in the medical community. Please visit Tiffany's schedule page for
updated talks and workshops.
In addition to her own efforts, Tiffany is contributing to the work of Project Compassion as part of the Community Engagement Team and
Advisory Board. She is a member of UNC Hospital's Bereavement Committee and helps in the fund raising efforts for The Sweet Melissa
Fund and The North Carolina Transplant Foundation. Tiffany also serves as a board member for Second Wind Lung Transplant
Association and is proud to be a member of the Duke Medical System's Patient Advocacy Council.
After a lifetime of difficulty and victories, this illness warrior has emerged with insight, clarity and purpose. Through her talks, her book
and the way she lives her life, this sick girl is ready to speak!
For Tiffany's official resume, please contact us via email and we will send one to you within 48 hours.
illness that primarily affected her lungs.
After a sickly childhood, Tiffany began her acquaintance with in-patient hospital care at the age of 12. In addition to traditional
treatments, she began to experiment with many different healing modalities around the age of thirteen. She continued to practice many
of these techniques throughout her various illnesses. In spite of extensive ongoing treatments and procedures—at home and in various
hospitals throughout the United States—at twenty-three years of age, Tiffany was placed on the list for a double lung transplant at UNC
Memorial Hospital. Waiting a total of five long and difficult years, during which, her lung function dropped to 18% capacity, she received
her first set of donor lungs in April of 2000. She celebrated her 27th birthday a few months later.
Tiffany enjoyed a level of health and energy she had never known until May of 2002 when she was diagnosed with chronic rejection.
There were few treatment possibilities and Tiffany grew gravely ill, even more so than before her first transplant. Her lung function was
down to 10%of capacity and was told she only had months to live. Though, as her outer body weakened, her inner journey opened and
she found unexpected gifts of insight, perspective, humor and strength. She began to know an inner peace she had never thought possible.
Due to a series of wonderful and unusual events, Tiffany was able to have a rarely performed second lung transplant just in the nick of
time.
After the surgery, Tiffany awoke with a clear awareness of being “called” to work with those touched by illness and death. As soon as her
recovery allowed, she trained as a Hospice Volunteer and began developing her talks and workshops. Combining her experiences with
Western medicine, alternative therapies, various meditation techniques and coping/thriving mechanisms she has developed herself,
Tiffany has created programs that are unique, thought-provoking and inspirational. For those interested in seeking private guidance,
Tiffany also provides illness coaching through email or over the phone.
Tiffany believes that, given her life’s experiences, it is her duty to lend a hand to those struggling to find their way through the world of
illness. Since 2005, she has participated in many exciting speaking events, enjoyed coaching those in the medical maze and finished her
book, Sick Girl Speaks! Starting in September of 2007, Tiffany left her job as a Veterinary Bereavement Coordinator and began working
towards her goals full time. In January of 2008, Sick Girl Speaks Inc. was created and Tiffany was excited to begin working with Project
Compassion on a year-long grant project. In April of 2008, Tiffany became certified in the "Respecting Choices" La Crosse model of
Advance Care Planning Facilitation. She is also certified to teach this model to those who wish to be facilitators.
Throughout 2008, Tiffany will be leading many workshops on Patient Advocacy, Advance Directives and Organ/Tissue Donation. She will
continue talking with medical and nursing students about the patient perspective and the role of professionals as advocate. Tiffany's
writings will be seen in various newsletters and magazines including Boom!, CF Roundtable, and Airways. Listen for her on the popular
national NPR radio show, "The People's Pharmacy." Her workshop, "10 Opportunities of Illness" will be hosted by Duke Continuing
Studies and her one woman show, "The Permanent Me" will be performed at the CFRI Conference in The Bay Area. These and many
other exciting projects are the beginning of a promising new voice in the medical community. Please visit Tiffany's schedule page for
updated talks and workshops.
In addition to her own efforts, Tiffany is contributing to the work of Project Compassion as part of the Community Engagement Team and
Advisory Board. She is a member of UNC Hospital's Bereavement Committee and helps in the fund raising efforts for The Sweet Melissa
Fund and The North Carolina Transplant Foundation. Tiffany also serves as a board member for Second Wind Lung Transplant
Association and is proud to be a member of the Duke Medical System's Patient Advocacy Council.
After a lifetime of difficulty and victories, this illness warrior has emerged with insight, clarity and purpose. Through her talks, her book
and the way she lives her life, this sick girl is ready to speak!
For Tiffany's official resume, please contact us via email and we will send one to you within 48 hours.
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Tiffany Christensen is
Sick Girl Speaks!
Imagine a lifetime of being poked, prodded and examined.
Through her talks, her book and the way she lives her life...this sick girl is ready to speak!
Sick Girl Speaks!
Imagine a lifetime of being poked, prodded and examined.
Through her talks, her book and the way she lives her life...this sick girl is ready to speak!
| "Illness is a journey like no other. One thing I know now is that I am not illness. When I see pictures of myself from the past, I see sickness moving through my body. I can also see that the person inside remains the same." -Tiffany Christensen |
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For a more personal insight,
Email correspondence may be sent to: tiffany@sickgirlspeaks.com
| Want to read Tiffany's book? You can buy "Sick Girl Speaks!" off of this website by clicking the "Add to Cart" button to the left! |