If you know anything about my book, Changing Fate, you know it's about a girl with cystic fibrosis. Since this month is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness month, I thought I'd expound on the topic. The facts listed are taken from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website.
30,000 children and adults in America have CF with the worldwide total estimating around 70,000.
It's a genetic disease that causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus--which leads to lung and pancreas problems.
About 1,000 cases of CF are diagnosed each year.
Nearly half the CF population is age 18 or older.
That's HUGE! If we go back 60 years ago, few children born with CF lived to attend elementary school. With new research and treatments, people with CF can expect to live into their late 30's, even into their 40's, or longer!
But the reality is...there's STILL no cure! A lifetime of daily treatments is not only costly, but it's exhausting.
While writing my book, I worked with some amazing people and parents of children with CF, who've been through transplants and years of treatments.
Now, every case is different. One girl I worked with said three of the five kids in her family were born with CF. Between those three, the affects of the disease are very different from one child to another. The story I wrote might not match each person, but I hope it can spread the word and help others become aware of the struggle some people go through just to breathe.
It's good to be aware and help where you can :)
One celebrity made a life changing decision because of her experience with 2 CF kids. Go here to watch Whoopi's story on the Dr. Oz show.
I hope in some way, I can continue to spread awareness and maybe help in the cause to find a cure.
