Battle for Brooks

Thanks so much for visiting Brooks' Great Strides page.  Here is Brooks' story... 

During my pregnancy with Brooks, they found an echogenic and dilated bowel on his 20-week ultrasound.  One possible cause of this was cystic fibrosis, however the chances were "very small".  After undergoing genetic testing, it was found that Brooks had a 1 in 4 chance of having cystic fibrosis  with the DDF508 mutation.  This is the most serious mutation, however, the most researched and therefore has the most treatments and medications available.  This came as quite a shock  beings Brady and Tyler, nor anyone in our families, have cystic fibrosis. Brooks was born on October 13th, 2016, at 38 weeks.  He spent 9 days in the NICU.  At 7 days old, we received the news that his newborn screen came back positive for cystic fibrosis. This was later confirmed by a sweat test.   He is enzyme deficient, so he has been taking enzymes since about one week of age.  Without these enzymes, he would not be able to absorb his food.  He also started on airway clearance techniques at about 3 weeks of age to help keep his lungs clear.  

Fast forward SEVEN YEARS..... Brooks continues to take enzymes (he started swallowing pills at 2 years old) and does a CPT (Chest Percussion Therapy) vest twice a day for 30 minutes.  This is in addition to numerous other medications to help keep him as healthy as possible.   He is heading into 2nd grade next year!!!  He is extremely outgoing and FULL of energy.  It seems like everywhere we go, someone knows Brooks!  The nurse at school can barely get him to stop talking long enough for him to take his medicine, or yet, get him out of the office for lunch or recess.  He loves bothering his older brothers,  playing outside, spending time with his friends, and seeing his grandpa, grandma and cousins.  He played basketball this past spring and fall and loved it; and he's super excited to start Football later this summer!  Thankfully, he has been doing very good and luckily hasn't had to spend ANY nights in the hospital yet!!!  Unbelievably, he made it through Covid, even though other family members had it.  I contribute this to the many advances in therapy and the help of his great CF team at the Sanford Children's Castle.  The fact that one small cold or flu bug could make him extremely sick and put him in the hospital, is definitely scary and always in the back of our minds.  We are so hopeful for his future especially with the new "miracle drug" Trikafta, which he started taking about a month after his 6th birthday.  Thankfully he has tolerated it well.  Without the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the support of all our friends and family, this medication would have never been available for Brooks.  Donating to the CF Foundation is one way that we can help to make Brooks' life as long and healthy as possible. 

There are approximately 30,000 Americans living with cystic fibrosis. They are moms, dads, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, friends and co-workers who struggle every day just to breathe. I walk for them, along with my sweet Brooks, and hope you will support me and walk with us also! 

There still is no cure for this devastating disease. By walking today, we are helping add tomorrows to the lives of people living with cystic fibrosis. Support Brooks by donating to his Great Strides fundraising campaign today!  Your gift is 100-percent tax deductible. 

AWARENESS=FUNDS=RESEARCH=CURE