I will never forget the first time I coughed up blood. I was about nineteen years old. That was back when I was figure skating. As a matter of fact it happened while I was skating. It was the year when Mariucci Ice Arena made its debut on the University of Minnesota campus. We were skating a show for all the major sponsors and contributors. In middle of our program I tasted something funny. Soon to realize I had so much fluid in my mouth I had to spit. I was shocked to see blood on the ice. I thought maybe it was a bloody nose so somehow I found the right move to swing my arm across my nose but there was no blood. I was coughing more and having to spit more when it hit me, it was coming from my lungs. I was starting to get a little scared but as in show business “The show must go on”! I told my skating partner “keep going”! We finished our program and as we were taking our bow I was pointing to my family to meet me backstage. That was when I freaked out. My parents calmed me down and we headed to the hospital. I learned having a chronic lung disease this may happen from time to time. Today was a day I had that funny taste in my mouth. I cough up blood about once a month now. Unfortunately it is something I have come accustom to. The good news is I don’t need to get scared, I understand what is happening. I no longer skate so I have changed my thinking to “the day must go on”!