Jim LeMay

Soon after he was born, Linda and I found out that our grandson, Russell, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, Double Delta F508 mutation.

Russell is pancreatic insufficient which means he needs to take pancreatic enzymes to help process the fat in his food. Russell was unable to gain weight without the help from his enzymes. At his first couple appointments, Russell was in the 11th percentile for weight. Once he was on started taking his enzymes, he quickly began gaining weight. Fast forward to now, Russell at 2+ years old is at the top of the expected categories in height and weight.   We are thrilled with his growth and hope that he continues to maintain a healthy weight.

In addition to needing his enzymes, every day Russell receives manual chest PT, or “Pat Pat” time as he calls it. As Russell gets older, he will need additional lung therapies. When Russell is sick, he has a sick plan. He needs nebulizer treatments 3 times a day with albuterol and a hypertonic saline solution followed by chest PT. These treatments take almost an hour to complete from start to finish. All of these treatments help keep his lungs clear.  His parents Paul and Caroline are incredible with the way they handle all of this challenges (AS in Russell !!!)

Linda and I are thankful that we live in an area where Russell is close to Children's Hospital and has access to a team of doctors that are some of the best, if not the best, in the country in terms of working with CF patients.  Research is getting closer to finding the answer. Doctors and scientists have been able to develop medicine that dramatically improves the treatment of CF.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF)gets no federal funding, and all research is funded by donations! We appreciate your support to help Russell have a brighter future and as well as other children and people with Cystic Fibrosis!

Russell will once again lead Team Russ Man to help support CFF.  The walk will take place on May 18th at Borderland State Park in Easton.  If you would like to join our team or donate you can use this link

https://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/GreatStrides/74_Massachusetts_RI?px=5160963&pg=personal&fr_id=10471 

Every donation brings us closer to finding a cure for CF. Thank you for being part of our journey.

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.