What is Cystic Fibrosis? My Life with CF Awareness DONATIONS!!!

1. Hi!!!  I’m Katie!

3. I’m your average
21 yr old girl…

5. 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.

8. What you might not
know about me
though…

9. Is that I have
Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

10. As a baby I was sick often, I had
a “sweat test” done which
came back positive for CF.

11. 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.

14. 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.

19. 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.

21. 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.

23. When I was born the life
expectancy was 18,
which I have CLEARLY
outlived thanks to the
incredible advancements
in science and medicine.

24. 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!

25. 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.

39. 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!

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. This year my team will be participating at Roger
Williams Park in Providence, RI on May 9th

44. To donate money or just to learn more visit :
http://www.cff.org/GreatStrides/KatieLafortune