Photographer Ian Pettigrew is giving women with cystic fibrosis—a life-threatening disease—the spotlight to raise awareness and empower others living with it.
He recently published photos of close to 60 women in all different shapes and sizes who are living with cystic fibrosis in a portrait series called the Salty Girls project. (You can view all of the photos on his website and get updates about the project on his Facebook page.)
The name of the photo project comes from one of the disease’s symptoms: very salty-tasting skin. People with cystic fibrosis have more chloride, a compound found in salt, in their skin.
The life expectancy for someone with cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease with no cure, is unbelievably short. Some people are now living into their 40s or beyond, according to the American Lung Association—but the average life expectancy back in the 1980s was only 25 years old. The disease causes thick, sticky mucus to form in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. The mucus clogs the lungs, making it hard to breathe. This eventually leads to respiratory failure. When it comes to treatments, inhalers are common, while some people use implanted devices (they can be attached to the muscle beneath the skin of the chest or the upper arm) to help deliver drugs. Others may even need surgery, ranging from a lung transplant to chest tube drainage to repair a collapsed lung.
Given the cruel nature of cystic fibrosis, it’s truly inspiring to see these beautiful women confidently embrace their bodies—scars and all—with pride. View some of the pics below.