Mike Hutton

My(Hutton's) CF story:

On November 22nd, 2013 the best thing that ever happened to me came into this world. My baby boy Andrew Charles immediately swept me off my feet. Like most parents with their children I have fell more in love with him every day. I can truly say that while I have had some really close friends in life, be it my Dad, Lindy, or my buddies who I love like brothers, I have never had a better friend, a better partner in crime than my son. He is truly my pride and joy. My inspiration!

About a week after Andrew was born we found out that he had 2 copies of the gene for Cystic Fibrosis (CF). We had always known his mother was a carrier of this gene. But I didn’t, we didn’t know that I was a carrier of this gene until after his mother was pregnant. When I was told that I also had a copy of the CF gene I immediately reverted back to 10th grade biology and determined that my baby would have a 25% chance of having this disease. Never being one that the odds favored I had the most nauseating feeling in my stomach the day the doctor came in our room to give us the results of his blood test. When he said your son does have CF I broke down. I was puke sick. I was angry. And mostly I was scared. I knew the struggles that people with CF face because my son’s Aunt Anna also has the disease. I knew the toll this disease takes on young lives.

Now fast forward a month. We have to fast forward a month because for about that long I was paralyzed with grief and fear. I moped around like a whipped puppy. However my fighting spirt did return, and I vowed then that I would leave no stone unturned to help find a cure for Andrew and Anna. For everyone with CF. So this is why I walk. I walk so my son and others like him don’t have to endure the countless hours of treatments each day. So he can play outside without his mother having to say “Come in Andrew. It’s time for you to do your saline mist”. Or “It’s time to put on your vibrating vest”. I walk because I reject the possibility that my son will have a shorter life span than the average American male. I walk because families are suffering. And they shouldn’t have too. So I ask all of you who have read this to please donate to find a cure for CF. I implore you! Without your help we won’t find a cure. You see all donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation come from private donor ship. Yeah that’s right. Our government in its infinite wisdom can find no financial backing for the cure of CF. So it’s up to you!! Please make it possible for my son to outlive me!! Please make it possible for him and Anna to lead normal lives. Any amount of money you can contribute is helpful and appreciated. Thank You!

Andrew's Daddy