You already know April Green Thompson.
Yes, she’s a member of the Wheeling-famous Green family, the same clan that awoke each day for years at 3 a.m. so we could stuff our faces with donuts by 6 a.m., and she’s also the daughter without a mother because Nancy Lynn Green vanished nearly 21 years ago.
What you might not know about April is how tough she is. Like, bona fide beat-your-ass tough. Not only does April snap a mean snarl and don a Mohawk, but she’s competed in fitness obstacle races for years in the Wheeling area. While suffering from Cystic Fibrosis.
You read that right. Cystic Fibrosis, a respiratory disease that eventually renders the lungs defenseless against deadly disease. And April does not have an easy time with CF even though she’s undergone as many available treatments as possible. She’s already collecting donations for her upcoming CF Walk, and this May – Cystic Fibrosis Month – she’ll raise awareness on the local radio waves, and she’ll explain to anyone why fighting back is the only option.
That’s why you already know April Green Thompson.
Did you know what a Mohawk was when you were kid? Who wore Mohawks “back in the day”?
I absolutely knew what a mohawk was when I was a kid! I used to see punk rockers on TV with them. I actually wanted one since I saw them on TV, and my Cystic Fibrosis medication gave me the perfect opportunity to rock one.
(CF-med) Kayldeco thinned my hair, so I took the leap and shaved it all off. My husband said, “You have always wanted a mohawk so why not do it now?”
I let it grow some, and he shaved it into the mohawk for me.
How often do you escape light pollution?
I would say the only time I escape light pollution in every sense is when I go to bed. My eyesight is not the best, so I prefer it to be bright most of the time.
What is it about Cystic Fibrosis that most do not understand?
Most people do not understand the genetics of Cystic Fibrosis. One in 30 people are a symptomless carrier of the gene. You may never know it especially if you are a man. Pregnant women now get screened for it in the panel they draw. That is typically how they find out. It could still not be an issue though.
Cystic Fibrosis is a recessive gene. Both of the parents have to carry the gene in order for the child to have a chance of having Cystic Fibrosis. If the woman has the gene show up in the panel, they usually ask the male to be tested if they are around. They do test babies at birth now in the foot stick that they do in hopes it is caught then. In cases like mine it isn’t caught right away.
What kind of donut remains your all-time favorite?
Donuts! What a great question for a descendant of the great Green’s donuts! I can’t find a comparable donut to my favorite donut.
My favorite has always been the maple cinnamon swirl that Green’s made. I don’t remember the actual name. I was young. It was a cinnamon-infused cake swirled around that had maple icing on top. I have found some pretty good donuts, but nothing beats that one.
What scares you?
I don’t scare easily, but one thing I hate is heights. It seems crazy since I like roller coasters and do obstacle course races. The hill is the worst part of the roller coaster for me because it goes so slowly. I close my eyes and hope it is over.
I usually have to give myself a big pep talk on the high obstacles at a race too. I had a full-blown panic attack on one. I had to get shoved over the obstacle, but I survived.
