Valerie Batz

I just celebrated my 65th birthday in April and I’m so thankful. I honestly never thought I’d live this long. I was born in 1959 and diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 22 months old. My parents were told that I wouldn’t live long enough to attend kindergarten. I was fortunate enough to have a bi-lateral lung transplant in 1998. I just celebrated my 26th lungiversary / rebirthday in March. I was told at the time that the life expectancy of a lung transplant patient was 5 years. The year after my transplant, I was diagnosed with colon cancer Stage III and again was told to expect about 5 years left to live. 

The past 65 years have not been without plenty of struggles, pain, prayers, obstacles, depression, joy and blessings. I deal with a lot on a daily basis including taking all my medication with food, without food, empty stomach, nighttime, morning plus many therapies, doctor appointments, procedures and lab work. I was hospitalized 3 times last year and missed our vacation, Thanksgiving and Easter this year while being very ill. The worst is when my beautiful, gifted lungs fill up with mucus and I can’t breathe. I require high doses of oxygen and a bed in the ICU. 

I’m so blessed to live life with a committed husband, 35 year old twins, son in law, daughter in law and 4 healthy grand children, as well as, parents, sister, brother in law and friends. 

Throughout all of this, I continue to fight, enjoy life and to be grateful for every breath I take. 

My Great Strides Story

There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis. By participating in Great Strides, I am helping to end this disease for thousands of people impacted by CF.

Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. The symptoms can vary from person to person, and as people with CF live longer than ever before, their disease can become more complicated, leading to serious health issues.  

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has made extraordinary progress — including fostering the development of more than a dozen CF treatments — but these treatments are not a cure and not everyone can benefit from them. We must keep going.

Your support makes a difference.

By donating to my fundraising goal, you will help advance our mission for a cure for all. Please consider joining us and helping make CF stand for Cure Found.