Vanessa Sturing

Join us for Walk With Lyric 2024 and be part of our journey to find a cure for CF! Watch The Lyric Lane Story Finding a Cure For Cystic Fibrosis on you tube filmed by our friends at The Genesis Project for our first walk in 2021. 

Hi my name is Lyric Lane Sturing. I was born a month premature by emergency c-section at Gritman Medical Center. I survived two death sentences at birth my cord was in a knot, and my intestines were about to rupture.

After I took a life flight and underwent life saving surgery to remove 25 centimeters of dead intestine and part of my small intestine, my parents were given the grim news that I had Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic Fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease that affects approximately 40,000 Americans,  1-33 Americans carry this defective gene. My mom and dad both carried the gene which gave them a 1-4 chance of having a child born with this disease which they were unaware of until my birth.

My family has been my greatest source of inspiration and empowerment, and in 2021, they took their support to new heights by establishing Walk With Lyric, a movement dedicated to raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through the annual Great Strides event. Just like the courageous parents who founded the CF foundation, my parents refused to give up on hope and are determined to pave the way for a brighter future for those affected by this disease. In the 1950s, when the Foundation began, doctors gave parents a seemingly insurmountable task: to love their child unconditionally despite the slow and painful fate that awaited them. 

At that time, research had yet to uncover the causes of this devastating illness, let alone any treatments or hope for a brighter future. Inspired to give their children a fighting chance, these parents embarked on a mission to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for research and development of clinics and medications. Their tireless efforts have significantly transformed our lives and given hope to families affected by the disease. If it weren't for their determination, we wouldn't have the gift of a four-year-old today, as life expectancy was merely 1-3 years back then. After decades of tireless efforts, scientists have identified the root cause of cystic fibrosis and developed life-prolonging treatments. We're on the cusp of a breakthrough with DNA therapy, gene editing, and mRNA therapy and that's why we must continue the fight! Join us in our quest for a cure and support this home town hero. Lyric wants to grow up and play baseball and basketball like his dad and become a superhero doctor who saves people. Together, we can create a brighter future where no parent has to bury their child.

We will Walk With Lyric and others like him until CF stands for Cure Found. Every dollar counts!

Let me give you all a life update:

In this last year I had a lot of firsts and amazing experiences that I will always remember.

I was able to visit and camp in 5 states in 2 weeks!

I had my first experiences at a zoo, a really cool stalactite cave, reptile gardens, bear country USA, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, The Badlands, Wall Drug, Yellowstone, I even got new drumsticks from The Surf Ballroom! I learned all about Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Big Bopper and visited the crash site that took their lives. I played a little guitar for them when I was there because I felt sad they died.

I hiked around so many cool places like Devil’s Tower where I pretended to kill rattlesnakes the whole hike, and said Hi to everyone that I saw hiking!

I also had my first boat ride and even took the helm when we were camping in Harrison.

I had my first experience with peers my age and a coach when I joined a tee ball team.

I only was able to attend two games because there were some hot weather cancellations that were re-scheduled when we had our big trip all the way to Iowa!

Dad started homeschooling me teaching me everything from cooking, drumming beats, letter recognition as well as sound, fun workbooks and letter and number games, and math! 

I can do simple addition now and I am working on putting sounds together to form words, and recognizing site words.

I still love drums, and all sports that involve a ball!

My goal to be a college/ professional athlete that people can watch on TV is something I’m still interested in.

This year I also took a big interest in being a Doctor, “a surgeon that cuts people open and fixes them, a superhero Doctor.”

Dad says that I would have good bedside manner since I’m a people person, and magnetic! 

I also started becoming interested in dinosaurs this year and learning about the different kinds and their names.

I look forward to all the adventures I will have in 2024

all the firsts!

I will start soccer this year which will make up for not being able to go to preschool, I’ll get to meet some peers and hope I can also make some friends.

Always have to think “minimize exposure risks”, Fact is more parents send their children to school sick than they do to sports.

And school would be challenging anyways with how many treatments and medications I take throughout the day. 

My favorite memory last year was getting our camper and all of our adventures, it was also funny to see dad have to bend over because the roof is 6’8 and dad is 7 feet! Fun times we’re had on the four trips we took last year, I’m excited to hit the road and more adventures in The G’whiz.

This year our first trip will be to Boise for Great Strides June 8th. 

Last year our team Walk With Lyric came in first place for funds raised at the Boise walk.

I was to be honored at the Walk and even cut the ribbon. 

I would have felt very special that day had we been able to make it.

My sister graduated from High School the same day as the event in Boise 300 miles away.

I’m hoping my team wins again this year so that I can be the ribbon cutter and receive recognition for my team.

 *This year I’m hoping to find a few business level or corporate level sponsors.

We would wear your logo on the back of our shirts this year.

*All donations are tax deductible and you have receive an email receipt as soon as you donate.

*You can donate with the link below, or Venmo @WalkWith-Lyric 

*We can also accept check donations for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, message us and we can provide an address.

*To learn more about me follow my Facebook page Walk With Lyric and #walkwithlyric 

* I am four years old now so I hope to raise at least $4,000 

* I’m embracing this year like I have done every year, having new experiences and making memories….and lots of adventure!

Living for those that came before me that never lived to see 4 years. 

@WalkWith-Lyric (Venmo)

Or link bellow!