Jamie Prichard

Zoe was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was one week old. She has been on daily medications and breathing treatments since. While we feel we’ve been extremely lucky with her health, she has still be hospitalized, is sick often, and has to work a lot harder to do the things she loves.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the reason people with CF are filled with hope. The medications that are now available to 90% of people with CF have been life changing.

When Zoe was born, we were told her life expectancy was 37. In 2021, because of these medications, that has changed.

“The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recently announced that there are almost 40,000 people living with CF in the United States. Not only are there more of us with CF, but we are now living longer. Based on the 2021 CF Foundation Patient Registry data, the current life expectancy for CF patients born between 2017 and 2021 is 53 years — a substantial jump from a decade ago when the life expectancy was 38. Now, almost 60% of us are older than 18. These numbers mean something special for us and the way we live our lives.” - Betsy Sullivan

Words cannot describe the joy that brings us, but it doesn’t mean we stop here. Even with medication, Zoe will still need breathing treatments to keep her lungs healthy. There are 10% of people with CF that do not qualify for these medications, and some of the people that do qualify are unable to stay on them due to side effects.

The bottom line is, we celebrate progress, but we don’t stop until there is a cure.

We chose to participate in the Howard County event because it was on a Saturday. We anticipate it being from about 10:30-12:30. Mike and I will be hosting a cookout for anyone interested in coming to our house that evening to celebrate. We want to thank everyone for being involved. Details will come as it gets closer