Kimberly Houston

I am the mother of two amazing little girls, Kelsie is 11 and is in the 5th grade and Mackenzie is 6 and in Kindergarten. Both Kelsie and Mackenzie were born with cystic fibrosis. While they look and act completely healthy on the outside, the reality is that they fight an invisible enemy on the inside that threatens their ability to breathe both now and especially in the future. 

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic, progressive, and incurable disease. It is most damaging in the lungs where it can cause chronic infections and inflammation that can compromise one's ability to breathe and lead to irreparable damage over time. In order to stay as healthy as possible, both girls take 200 pills a week, connect to a percussive vest for 30 minutes of lung therapy twice a day, and go to the doctor every 3 months for regular CF checkups, blood draws, xrays, and lung function testing. Even though chronic illness in childhood can be overwhelmingly challenging, they do not let it slow them down and we, as their parents, do not let it hinder them from experiencing a happy and active childhood.

Still, the threat this disease poses on their bodies and the progression of CF over time is frightening. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has made INCREDIBLE gains over the past several decades and has literally helped changed the face of this disease by discovering new drugs and lifesaving therapies. And in 2019, the most remarkable breakthrough yet has come to fruition with the release of Trikafta, a new drug that effectively targets the underlying cause of the disease for 90% of people with CF (currently only available to people ages 12 and up). This life-changing advancement was made possible because of the support and funding from the CF Foundation. Even though this is a milestone we celebrate with enormous gratitude, we must not stop here. This is NOT a cure and this drug is still not accessible to everyone with CF. CF continues to be a complex and life threatening disease with a broad spectrum of challenges. 

So our work is far from done. The CF Foundation continues to invest its funds in vital research and is working tirelessly to help discover a cure for this life-altering disease.  The more money they receive, the more they can pour into costly research that will be vital to improving the care for CF patients and hopefully, one day even lead to the discovery of that once-and-for-all end to cystic fibrosis. We want to continue to be a part of that and, therefore, we are dedicated to commit our time and energy year after year to raising money for this organization that provides so much hope for our girls’ future and the thousands of others living with CF.

The past two years, Great Strides was not able to be held in person due to Covid restrictions. However, this year, it is back! Please help us come back strong by supporting Team Take it Away!

My hope is that we can continue to keep up the progress for this incredible organization that offers so much hope for our girls' futures and for all of those living with CF. So we are boldly reaching our arms and hearts out wide and ask you to consider donating to this cause on our behalf and joining us in this fight to TAKE CF AWAY! You may support our team and make a tax-deductible donation directly to the CF Foundation by clicking the button "Donate to Kimberly".  We feel the love behind each donation and can’t say enough how thankful we are for each pledge of support.  

One last note from the CF Foundation: 

 We are at a pivotal moment in the history of cystic fibrosis and your support matters. Your gift will help add tomorrows to the lives of people with cystic fibrosis by supporting groundbreaking research and medical progress towards a cure.