Told as a child he’d never run — or maybe not even see adulthood — James Boudreau of Maumee is not only running, but is in training for a marathon.

Diagnosed at 3 months old with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that causes thick mucus to clog the lungs and pancreas, leading to trouble breathing, poor digestion, frequent infections, and malnutrition, he was given a life expectancy of 18 years.

“Maybe 18, on average, the expectancy is terminal,” Mr. Boudreau, 41, said. “Obviously, it affects the lungs. The way you would pass away is through asphyxiation. Your lungs get covered in mucus because you can't clear it out.”

With a childhood marked by constant hospitalizations and a future clouded by uncertainty, he was still determined to live as normally as possible, even as the disease ma

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