Meet Felicia Morton

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Felicia Morton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Felicia below.

Felicia, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose when my son was diagnosed with Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD), a rare and lethal primary immune deficiency, in 2012. He was six months old. The only cure was a bone marrow transplant. I knew, at that moment, that my purpose was to save him and keep my family together. In the process, I learned so much about CGD, that I became a well-known patient advocate. I am grateful that I was able to put my knowledge to work to save my son and many others with this disease as well.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
As the executive director of the CGD Association of America (CGDAA), I have been a dedicated advocate for the Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) community for more than a decade. As a female carrier of X-linked CGD, the daughter of an affected female carrier, and the mother of a son who was diagnosed with CGD and underwent a successful stem cell transplant for CGD – I have experienced the impact of this rare, inherited primary immune deficiency first-hand. In 2019, seeing the need for a more focused voice for the CGD community, I formed the CGDAA, a Sec.501c3 non-profit organization with the mission to advocate for patients with CGD and female X-linked carriers of CGD by providing clear, accurate, and independent news and information about CGD and advancing CGD research. Thanks to the CGDAA’s reputation as a trusted resource, the organization’s database has grown to more than 600 members; this robust collection of patient and carrier data is one of the largest in the world and has already enabled important IRB approved patient-centered surveys and studies. In addition to funding important research, our organization also publishes a monthly e-newsletter for the community and holds well-attended online events to help connect our rare community and provide education. Given the rarity of CGD, the disease can feel isolating, and I am committed to helping patients and carriers know that they’re not alone. The CGDAA is here to provide information, education, and meaningful connections because I know how it feels to get that devastating diagnosis and have nowhere to turn. I am grateful to the CGD Mothers I found, who helped me navigate a path forward for me and my son. Thanks to them, I have a healthy child, a healthy Mother, and I am working on my own health. I will spend the rest of my life paying this forward. My goal is for everyone to have the same successful outcome that I have had. In addition, I encourage caregivers, especially Moms, to practice self-care to maintain their sense of strength and peace for this difficult journey. To help encourage others to take charge of their own health and wellness, I obtained my yoga teacher training certification this year. Since then, I have been honored to teach yoga at several medical conferences and CGD caregiver events.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think the three most important qualities are curiosity, determination, and communication. I think it’s so important to be curious. I’ve always had a burning desire to know more. I am constantly reading, asking questions, and seeking answers. That’s where the second quality, determination comes in. I won’t take no for an answer. I will keep working towards my goal to understand, to grow, and accomplish what I feel is important. The third quality is communication. Once you’ve learned something valuable it’s important to know how to communicate it effectively. All of this really can be summed up in one word: Love. If you love what you do, you will naturally be curious about it; you will be determined to succeed; and you will experience joy in sharing your knowledge with others by communicating what you know with your whole heart.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
The Bible has played an important role in my development. It’s important to always remember that we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5: 7. These are such important words to live by. Whether we are embarking on a new business venture, launching a nonprofit, or starting any new initiative, we might feel daunted or anxious. That’s normal. But that’s where faith comes in. We can’t see the outcome yet. All we can do is our best, and put one foot in front of the other, as we walk forward in faith. We must believe we can reach the light even if we’re ensconced in darkness. It’s the only way.

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