Team Peterson

Dear Family and Friends,

I can't believe this is our 15th year!  Mark your calendars for May 20th, 2023 at Ida Lee Park!  We are excited to bring together everyone to celebrate the successes of the foundation, to say thank you for your ongoing support, and hopefully get a little exercise along the way!

It was about 15 years ago when I attended my first and last CF support group.  It was a group of about 4 to 5 moms.  There was the feisty one who I could tell was on top of everything!  She talked about the current clinical trial her child was in and how they made weekly trips to CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia). Then there was the quiet mom who looked completely exhausted.  She would offer up a sweet smile to me when I would catch a glimpse of her.  The Social worker who lead the meeting looked like a hippie straight from the 70's!  She seemed to be a little flustered but tried to keep the meeting positive and that's when I learned about a mother who was not present that evening.  She was not there because she had just lost her 15 year old daughter to her battle with Cystic Fibrosis.  Her name was Megan.

Fast forward to 2011 when we decided to move our walk from Vienna to Leesburg to make it easier for more of our neighbors to participate. We joined the walk at Loudoun County High School. It was nice to see so many high school kids.  With our team having much younger children they enjoyed being with the older kids!  As we arrived there were pictures hanging on a tent of this beautiful young teenage girl.  It didn't take long for me to figure out who she was.  The CF director asked if she could introduce me to Megan's mother.  We gave each other a big hug, cried a lot and she shared her story with me.  

I have to believe Megan has been watching over Catherine these last 15 years.  I think of her often as I know she did not have access to the treatments and medications Catherine has had in her lifetime.

Catherine, as you can see in her picture is running both Cross Country and Track for her High School.  She's loving it!  I never thought a kid with CF would be running the 1000 Meter race!  With age comes some additional challenges.  Catherine has been tested for CF Related Diabetes since she was 10.  We confirmed about a week ago she does have CFRD.  She has started daily insulin.  As with any new challenge the hope is that is won't be forever.  Catherine's doctors told me very early on to take things day by day.  And that is exactly what we have done.  Catherine hopes to become a nurse one day and after meeting with the Pediatric Endocrinology team at John's Hopkins I think she has found her calling. 

Each year we have new members to our Great Strides team. For those of you who do not know about Cystic Fibrosis, I would like to share some information with you. Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Approximately 2,500 babies are born with Cystic Fibrosis each year in the United States.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 40s and beyond.

Together, we are adding tomorrows to the lives of people with Cystic Fibrosis.

No words can ever be enough to express our gratitude not only for what you are doing for Catherine but for all those who live with Cystic Fibrosis.

With your help one day CF will stand for Cure Found!

We hope to see you on Saturday, May 20th, 2023!

Team Peterson