Jonah Ostermann

On a sunny day this past September, we drove into the breathtaking Sequoia National Forest to get Jonah settled at Joshua Wilderness Institute, a discipleship program at Hume Lake Christian Camp. As we entered the beautiful Joshua building, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and nervous energy. For nine months this group of 18 to 24-year-olds would be living in a close-knit community, taking multiple Bible classes, memorizing the entire book of Philippians, working at camp retreats, listening to dozens of speakers, going on mission trips, and committing to a set of challenging expectations. Without a doubt, Joshua is a difficult, intense program, but one that offers a unique and meaningful experience. Like the other students moving into the building that day, Jonah arrived with bedding and toiletries, school supplies and books, board games and snacks. But Jonah’s packing also included a large rolling case with his compression vest, bags full of nebulizers, a large air pump for twice a day breathing treatments, a sanitizer for sterilizing medical equipment, hundreds of ampules of medications, and multiple bottles of pills. Like the other students, he would be expected to adhere to a demanding schedule of classes, homework assignments, chores, camp work, and program activities, but also fit in 90 minutes of breathing treatments every day, as well as be fully responsible for his health care in a way he never had before.

With the program nearing its end, we are so thankful for the experience Jonah has had! We have observed him growing in character, gaining valuable knowledge, and maturing in his faith. We are grateful for the incredible relationships he has made, meaningful opportunities he has experienced, and exciting adventures he has enjoyed. We know managing his health has not been easy, and we admire the fortitude and diligence he exhibits daily as he does treatments and takes his medications. Yet, the fact is, Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive disease with no cure, and it has continued to take a toll on Jonah’s body. Over these last eight months, his lung function has declined, he has faced some scary medical symptoms, and has felt disappointed multiple times when health issues have impacted his participation in events. There are times when it all feels very overwhelming and not a day goes by that we don’t wish Jonah could experience life without CF.

Since its founding in 1955, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been dedicated to researching lifesaving therapies and medications for CF with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for all people living with this devastating disease. Thanks to the foundation’s tireless efforts, we now have drugs and therapies that improve treatments and daily life. There are also some medications that help fight certain effects of CF and even correct the basic defect and dramatically improve the health of some types of CF gene mutations, although unfortunately not the type of mutations Jonah has. We are incredibly thankful for the CF Foundation’s unshakable commitment to finding a cure for everyone who has CF and we recognize the need for ongoing support to help achieve that dream.