1. Cystic Fibrosis ~Katie - Presentation Transcript I’m Katie!Hi!!! I’m your average 21 yr old girl… I’m a Junior at Worcester State College studying Communication Sciences and Disorders. My friends and family are very important to me and I love them both. What you might not know about me though… Is that I have Cystic Fibrosis (CF) As a baby I was sick often, I had a “sweat test” done which came back positive for CF. CF is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. It causes sticky, thick mucus to clog the lungs & obstructs the pancreas. People with CF often get hospitalized for respiratory infections, if not treated these infections could become life threatening. I am extremely LUCKY though because I have NO digestive problems. CF is a part of my life but it doesn’t define who I am. I was brought up to live a normal life, despite having a serious lung disease. My friends and family have never treated me different, which I feel has helped me mature and become independent. To keep my lungs as clear as possible I do chest physical therapy twice a day while inhaling medicine through a nebulizer. This helps bring up excess mucus and keeps my airways open so I can breathe easier. Exercise is also a wonderful way to keep my lungs clear. In high school I was a cheerleader and now in college I choreograph in a dance company. I also try to workout in the gym everyday. When I was born the life expectancy was 18, which I have CLEARLY outlived thanks to the incredible advancements in science and medicine. Now the life expectancy is 37. I KNOW that I will also exceed this although 50% of CF patients won’t……What we need is a cure! Every year I take donations and attend the Annual Great Strides: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis Walk. An enormous thanks goes out to all my family members and friends who have donated, attended, and participated in this walk year after year. Without the neverending support of my parents I would not be where I am today. They are the main reason why I am so healthy. Before the chest PT vest was invented, my Dad would wake up extra early EVERY morning just to pat on my back while I inhaled meds. Thanks Dad! And Mom, don’t think I didn’t forgot to mention all your annoying phone calls making sure I’ve done my steam-a-chine aka nebulizer for that day. Love you! Thanks Mom! I did not make this video for sympathy! I truly just want to help all the other CF patients who are not as LUCKY as me. Also I want to raise awareness about this disease. Researchers are extremely close to finding a cure. Your donation might be the last PUSH to make CF stand for Cure Found. You are helping to make history and save the lives of 30,000 patients in the U.S. This year my team will be participating at Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI on May 9th To donate money or just to learn more visit : http://www.cff.org/GreatStrides/KatieLafortune