For my nephew Patrick, an amazing kid I might add, who has Cystic Fibrosis. I decided to post information about his donation page, to inform people about CF and bring attention to his cause.
In hopes to raise money to find a cure and awareness about CF, this little darling has named his team named "Cough Up the Bucks." The name comes from his "hopes that all will dig deep and cough up a few bucks to help him make a difference."
Patrick, along with all the other CF kids would like CF to someday stand for Cure Found.
To register as part of Pat's Team, or to simply made a secure donation , Please visit his
page.
So what Is Cystic Fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:
. clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
. obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.
Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis
People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:
very salty-tasting skin;
persistent coughing, at times with phlegm;
frequent lung infections;
wheezing or shortness of breath;
poor growth/weight gain in spite of a good appetite; and
frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.
Statistics
About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.
More than 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.
The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is more than 37 years.
