Claire Wineland

Claire Wineland – Life, Activism & Memorable Quotes

Claire Wineland (1997–2018) was an American activist, author, and speaker who transformed her struggle with cystic fibrosis into a mission to support others, change perceptions of illness, and live boldly.

Introduction

Claire Lucia Wineland (born April 10, 1997 – died September 2, 2018) was a young yet deeply impactful voice in the realms of health activism, chronic illness advocacy, and inspirational speaking. Despite facing the daily challenges of cystic fibrosis (a progressive, life-limiting genetic disease), she refused to define herself by illness. Instead, she used her life as a platform to uplift others—particularly children and families touched by the same condition. Her authenticity, humor, vulnerability, and drive continue to inspire many.

Early Life & Medical Challenges

Claire Wineland was born in Austin, Texas. cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs.

When she was 13, Claire underwent a routine surgery during which her lungs failed, and she was placed in a medically induced coma. She was given a 1% chance of survival but eventually awoke after many days.

From that moment, Claire resolved to channel her energies into helping others with chronic illness, transforming her pain into purpose.

Activism, Work & Influence

Claire’s Place Foundation

At age 13, inspired by the outpouring of support she and her family received during her hospitalization, Claire founded Claire’s Place Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for families affected by cystic fibrosis.

The foundation offers emotional support and financial assistance (through programs like the Extended Hospital Stay Grants) to families whose children must remain hospitalized for extended periods (typically ≥14 consecutive days).

Speaking, Writing & Media

Claire was active as a speaker, author, and online creator. She gave TEDx talks, appeared in interviews and documentaries, and used social media and video platforms to document her experiences, reflections, and advice.

Together with a friend, she wrote the memoir Every Breath I Take: Surviving and Thriving with Cystic Fibrosis.

She hosted the Clairity Project, a series of vlog-style videos oriented around chronic illness, though later she revealed that she had limited control over the editing of that project.

Claire also appeared in the documentary series My Last Days, which highlights people living with terminal illnesses.

Legacy & Continuing Impact

• In 2016, she was named one of Seventeen Magazine’s “17 Power Teens.”

• She received honors including the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes and recognition in nonprofit circles.

• Her life and story influenced the 2019 film Five Feet Apart; she served as a consultant on the film.

• After her death, her family and foundation continued her mission, using her name and work to support others with CF.

Claire died from complications following a double lung transplant—she suffered an ischemic stroke due to a blood clot shortly after surgery and passed away at age 21.

Personality, Values & Style

Claire Wineland’s voice was defined by:

• Honesty and vulnerability: She openly discussed fear, suffering, hope, and flaws—not as showmanship but as connective truth.

• Humor and wit: Even in pain, she found ways to laugh, provoke, or subvert expectations.

• Empathy and compassion: She frequently urged people to see sufferers not as pitiable but as whole beings with purpose.

• Courage and assertiveness: She challenged norms around illness, expectation, and identity—for instance, refusing to let her sickness define her worth.

• Focus on agency: She often spoke of using suffering as material to build something meaningful, rather than letting it dominate identity.

Her approach reframed chronic illness not as a curse to hide, but as a context to live creatively, generously, and with dignity.

Memorable Quotes

Here are some of Claire Wineland’s poignant and frequently cited quotes:

“Death is Inevitable. Living a life we can be proud of is something we can control.”

“You don’t have to get rid of a problem to overcome it.”

“One of the most painful things about being a human being … is when you feel like you’re not of use to anyone and you have nothing to give.”

“I’m grateful for my own head and for all the weird things in it.”

“I don’t spend any time thinking about the day that I’m cured … on a certain level it doesn’t matter.”

“Health, in and of itself, isn’t important. Health … is a tool for you to make something of your life.”

“People who are sick … get so stuck in this notion that a hospital room is this cold, sterile, white place … that’s all that it can be. … We can make our lives … into something really beautiful.”

These lines encapsulate her philosophy: life’s limitations don’t preclude meaning, empowerment, or beauty.

Lessons & Reflections

From Claire Wineland’s life and work, we can draw lessons applicable to many:

1. Suffering can be a teacher
   Rather than denying pain, she invited us to transform it into insight, empathy, and creation.

2. You’re more than your diagnosis
   She consistently urged people to see the person behind the illness, not define the person by the illness.

3. Agency remains, even in constraint
   While she couldn’t control her disease, she insisted on controlling her attitudes, actions, and how she showed up in the world.

4. Vulnerability connects, not weakens
   Her honesty about fragility often strengthened connections and trust with audiences.

5. Legacy is relational
   Her foundation, her speeches, writings, and videos continue to uplift others—long after her physical life ended.

6. Use your time now
   Because Claire lived with the certainty of a shortened lifespan, she prioritized meaning, people, authenticity, and creative expression in every moment.