Help Jaxon Add Tomorrows!
Jaxon Kail Kretchmar was born April 17, 2010. The day after Jaxon was born he underwent major abdominal surgery. This surgery led to the discovery of meconeum ileus and soon resulted in the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. From the get go Jaxon proved he has what it takes to be a CF warrior and will proudly show off his "super hero" scars for proof. Jaxon takes pride in helping others and finds ways to be the leader or hero. Managing CF has become a lifestyle for Jaxon, and though the treatments can be difficult, Jaxon proves to be a very tough CF fighter all while maintaining a sweet, loving, and gentle spirit. We are very encouraged with the significant progress CF researchers are making, and we find hope in the possibility of cure. We know that this can't be accomplished without the funds that research requires. There are so many advanced treatments and "miracle" drugs on the horizon, now is the time to support CF research. Your contributions truly make a difference to Jaxon and to all those living with CF.
Jaxon's Daily Life: Jaxon spends a lot of time dealing with the realities of CF. The disease continues to take a toll on his little body. The effects of the disease manifests itself in a number of ways for Jaxon. Jaxon spends around 3 hours a day doing airway clearance shaking on his special vest to loosen the thick sticky mucous that settles in his lungs. While using the Vest he inhales a series of 4 nebulizer treatments designed to open his airway, thin the mucous, and kill bacteria. Jaxon does his nebulizer routine twice a day when healthy and much more when he is sick. That process can be exhausting for Jaxon causing his body to tire and require more sleep. Jaxon swallows around 40 pills over the course of a day. These pills aid in digestion and absorbtion, stimulate appetite, and help reduce the acid in his stomach. Jaxon drinks high calorie supplements to help achieve his daily intake requirement of 3000+ calories. Due to his lack of absorbtion, foods that are high in fat and protein are essential to meet his needs. Jaxon has gone through nearly 20 total surgeries, 2 abdominal surgeries and several related to his sinus and ears. Jaxon had an extensive daily routine of medications, vest airway clearance systems, nebulizers and sinus rinses. All of this along with countless doctor appointments, blood draws, x-rays, and other medical procedures is what is required for Jaxon to maintain the best quality of life possible for him. This past year brought new dimensions to Jaxon’s CF care. Distal Obstructive Intestinal Syndrome (DIOS) and Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes (CFRD) were introduced into his vocabulary. DIOS wreaked havoc on his belly with several abdominal pain threatening hospitalization on multiple occasions. CFRD- Jaxon is still in the pre-CFRD stage. We’ve spent a lot of time educating ourselves, making necessary lifestyle changes and bracing for what may be the next step in his journey. Jaxon's life and quality of life continue to depend on the new therapies that are in clinical trials right now. The science and studies offer him hope of a full life. Your giving to the CFF offers him life. "Money buys science and science buys Life"- Jaxon's Life
Jaxon is very excited to attend this year's Great Strides CF Walk on Saturday May 13 at the Myriad Botanical Gardens and would love to see YOU at the walk! Please join Jaxon in raising money to find a CURE for all those with Cystic Fibrosis!
Real progress has been made in the search for a cure, but the lives of people with CF are still cut far too short. There still is no cure for this devastating disease. By walking today, I am helping add tomorrows to the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis. Will you join me? Support me by making a donation to my Great Strides fundraising campaign today!
Great Strides is a fun, family-friendly event that raises awareness and support for people with CF and their families.
Please support me!
Help me reach my fundraising goal by donating to my Great Strides fundraising campaign. Your gift will help add tomorrows to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis by supporting life-saving research and medical progress. Your gift is 100-percent tax deductible.
Connect With Us
IMPORTANT NOTE ON ATTENDANCE AT FOUNDATION EVENTS:
Updated July 5th, 2023
The CF Foundation is committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of individuals attending Foundation events. Individuals attending CF Foundation events must abide by the Foundation's Event Attendance Policy www.cff.org/attendancepolicy, which includes guidance for event attendees living with cystic fibrosis.