Courtney Waters

My two children, Ivy and Tolliver, were both diagnosed as babies with cystic fibrosis. They are both vibrant, energetic, happy children and you would never know that they have a chronic, progressive disease just by looking at them.

You would never know that they have to complete multiple breathing treatments each day just to be able to breathe. These treatments take up 2-5 hours of their time EVERY day. These treatments help to break down the thick mucus their bodies create inside the lungs, which can cause deteriorating infections that will eventually lead to a needed lung transplantation.

You would never know that they each swallow over 25 pills every day just to be able to absorb nutrients in their food. You would never know that they both require a high calorie, high fat diet just to grow as a normal child. Cystic fibrosis causes thick, sticky mucus which can prevent the pancreas from creating the digestive enzymes needed to break down and absorb fat, protein, and fat soluble vitamins.

You would never know that they both have been diagnosed with liver disease that is related to their CF. CF related liver disease affects about 25% of CF patients and often leads to a needed liver transplant.

You would never know that they will likely be unable to have children of their own without medical intervention. Males with CF are about 99% infertile due to the absence or the clogging of the vas deferens.

You would never know that they need to be routinely screened for diabetes. CF related diabetes affects about 25% of the CF population.

You would never know unless I told you.

Now I’m asking for your support. Your donation will support groundbreaking research that will help improve the lives of those with CF and will hopefully, someday find a cure.