What is cystic fibrosis?

Cystic Fibrosis....do you know what it is?

• Hello, Please, anyone who opened this forum, read what I have to say. I'm not fake! This just means a lot to me. Yes, I'm looking for sponsors but I'm also looking to spread the awareness of Cystic Fibrosis. Not many people know of this life threatening disease. My Story.... I'm a 16 yr old high school student. Every year I fund raise for GREAT STRIDES which raising money to find a cure for CF(Cystic Fibrosis). My little sister, Jennifer M. Hoyland, passes away on November 9, 2006 at the age of 11. She was a very positive person that loved to help people. She always held her head up high even when things weren't looking very good. You would never guess that she was diagnosed with CF when she was 6 months old. In February of '06, Jennifer got a double lung transplant. She got to live like a normal child and play with her friends without getting sick or stopping for treatments but that didn't last long. On a trip to Hawaii to swim w/ the dolphins for her birthday that the Make-A-Wish foundation planned for her. It was suppose to be a happy time but she got really sick. She was flown to Stanford Hospital but they didn't know what was wrong. Later, the doctors had figured out the lungs that she had came with the CMV virus. A virus that 80% of the population had but doesn't effect us. On October 18 of '06, Jennifer went on life support. We stayed by her side days but I had to go back to school. My mother tried to see her everyday but it was hard with no money. I remember being in class & the phone rang. My teacher told me my mother was picking me up. Instantly I started freaking out & worrying about my sister. My mother had picked up my older sister & brother before getting me but wouldn't tell me what was going on. When we arrive to the hospital we found out the doctors where performing a surgery on my sister. I still had no clue what was going on. A while later her doctor comes out. She tells us that Jennifer isn't getting better & she won't be able to survive this. We entered my sister's room. I just remember going to her side to try to hold her hand but all I saw was blood. I looked at Jennifer, I knew she could fight this. She was always so strong. She always got sick but fought it off! She was a strong little girl. As much as I loved to believe she was going to survive, I knew it was time. I grabbed her hand & wrote "I love you" with my fingers. I watched as the color in her face disappeared. Family started to leave the room. My mother tried pulling me away but I just held on. I didn't want to leave! On November 9, 2006 Jennifer M. Hoyland's life was taken by Cystic Fibrosis. What is CF? Cystic fibrosis is a disease that causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus. As the mucus builds up in the lungs, it blocks the airways and promotes the growth of bacteria. As a result, patients experience chronic lung infections that cause increasing damage to the lungs. The mucus also may block ducts in the pancreas, which prevents digestive enzymes from reaching the small intestine. Without these enzymes, the body cannot fully absorb fats and proteins. This can lead to malnourishment and other symptoms. Cystic fibrosis also may create mineral imbalances, affect the liver and result in infertility. A defect in the gene known as cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) causes cystic fibrosis. Everyone inherits one copy of the CFTR gene from each parent. When both parents pass on an abnormal CFTR gene, the child will have cystic fibrosis. How you can help I'm doing a walk for CF called GREAT STRIDES. You can donate at http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/RebeccaHoyland Not only are you helping to find a cure but your donation will be 100% tax deductible! Thank you for taking time to read this, Rebecca Hoyland

• Answer:

  my 13 yr old son has it so yes i know what it is. I am very sorry to hear of your loss, keep up with the charity work one day there may be a cure x edit; Dr House stop pretending you are a doctor