Page Varner

August 29, 1996. 26 years ago. 26 long years of missing John. 26 years of wondering what he’d be like at 60 years old. Would he have a family now? What an amazing Dad he would have been. Oh, how he loved Angela! I can only imagine the relationship he would have with PresleyAnn! She would have him so tightly wrapped around her little pinky! I often wonder would any of the new meds be giving him a quality of life he only dreamed of? What a joy it would be to watch him working side by side with Rusty & Angela – and PA right along side them!

John was only 34 years old when he died. A year younger than Angela is now. He died 16 days after a double-lung transplant & multiple surgeries. Cystic Fibrosis finally got the better of him. However, John would argue that point for sure! He made it clear to us all that he would be healed one way or another – either on earth with the transplant or in Heaven with Jesus. And because he was so at peace with whatever the Lord chose for him, we ultimately were too.

John was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in February of 1975. He was 13 years old. Today, prenatal testing is done to test for CF, as well as other genetic diseases, and/or newborn screenings are done during the first few days of a baby’s life. The lifespan back then was about 17 years old. Today many are living well into their 40s & 50s. How scary that must have been for Mom & Dad to hear their son had a fatal disease they knew nothing about & that he would only live a few more years. Then they had to tell him he had a terminal disease & he would likely die soon. Praise God he took such good care of himself & he lived as long as he did.

Cystic Fibrosis is a fatal, genetic disease that causes long-lasting lung infections, progressive lung damage & over time, limits the ability to breathe. More than 30,000 children & adults in the US have CF (70,000 worldwide) & CF affects people of every race & ethnic group. There is no cure for CF…YET!

A cure is within our grasp! And it’s your donations that are making a difference in the lives of so many. Much has most definitely been accomplished, but for many, these forward steps in the labs are not enough. Every day we lose people to this disease – that is why your contribution is so very important in the effort to cure this horrendous disease. Your support provides the funds we need to push the limits & find a cure. John is gone, yet there are thousands clinging to the hope that you will help our scientists find a cure for this disease.

“There are more than 25 promising therapies in the drug development pipeline!” This is phenomenal! John would be amazed at the progress the researchers have made & he would give God all the glory! It WILL happen! It will happen SOON! CF will soon stand for CURE FOUND!

Every gift is an honor to John’s memory & we are forever grateful to each of you. My family & I thank you for your generosity. May God bless you for caring & not forgetting John.

Page & Angela (John, Jim & Katie too!)