Melissa Freeman Larson

Meet Colton! He has a huge heart and a compassion about him that others find infectious. He enjoys riding 4-wheelers, riding dirt bikes, fishing, playing video games, playing football, lifting weights and sharing time with family. He even started his own lawn care service with his brother, Ben! When you look at Colton, you will see, what appears to be, your typical 15 year old. What you don't see when you meet Colton is that he has Cystic Fibrosis. You won't see the daily struggles he has, all of the medications he takes, and the hours of breathing treatments he has to do in a week to stay healthy. You would never know that his battle with CF began before he was even born, when his intestine ruptured at 27 weeks gestation. You would never know that at just one day old, he had a portion of his intestines removed, and then had another major bowel surgery at just 4 weeks old. You wouldn't see all of his scars from his multiple PICC lines, nor know that he has had 6 sinus surgeries. You won't see the battles he has fought, and won, while being hospitalized for 10-14 days, fighting a CF exacerbation. What you would see when you meet Colton is that he is happy!!! He is energetic and full of life! He is funny! He is someone who fights daily and has taken control of his disease! He is the image of someone who has NEVER let CF define him!!

    In August 2020 Colton started Trikafta, a miracle drug that has helped the quality of life, for not just Colton, but thousands of other people with CF. 

Since starting Trikafta, Colton has been doing FANTASTIC!!  Colton no longer has the chronic cough he had for over 2 years, he no longer needs to inhale antibiotics, he has been able to eliminate on one of his breathing treatments and his lung function has been much more consistent. The BEST change is that Colton no longer has been given a life expectancy. Imagine being told that your newborn child has a life expectancy of 37. 37!!! And now we can expect him to live a much more normal life and to be able to picture his life with a family. The other big change we have seen in Colton is the ability to gain weight much easier and the fact that he is no longer the short kid. In an average year, Colton may gain 8-10 pounds and grow 2 - 2 ½ inches…and that was by working very hard to get the calories in him. In the first year of being on Trikafta, Colton gained just over 18 pounds and grew 4 inches. That’s almost double what any other year has been.  This medication has truly been life changing for us!

It would not be possible without all of your continued help and support. It is because of people like you, that miracles are possible. I never thought there would be a time that I wouldn't have to worry about Colton's life expectancy. Now is that time!!!

Please consider making a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Without them, we wouldn't be where we are today. Thank you from the bottoms of our hearts!!!