Living With Cystic Fibrosis

It is every parent's dream to have their first born child. When you go to see a doctor, do you ever question if your illness could be fatal? For Claire, she was born with a terminal illness. CF (Cystic Fibrosis) is commonly thought as a terminal illness that improves every year. It is incurable but can be treated. Claire would have lived a long life and would've continued to lift us all. Although, with the terminal illness killing her, there was no stopping it. It is something we misunderstand and take for granted cause it was inherited when she was born. Can you imagine being born with the same illness as her? It's estimated that in the US alone, 30,000 people with CF suffer this disease.

This image illustrates the inside look of the anatomy of someone with Cystic Fibrosis. The picture shows thick mucus and blood that can potentially clog airways.

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that progressively builds up mucus in a persons lungs. Over time, the mucus will build up and can potentially can clog the air ducts. The mucus can not only affect the lungs but the pancreas as well. The most common symptom of CF is chronic pain in the affected areas. Luckily many people with CF take regular hospital visits to treat these symptoms. Everyday doctors are finding a cure to this disease.Something that we can hope for.

Here is a video created by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation that talks about the mucus regarding the pancreas and lungs

Consider this: Imagine living your average life with a straw in your mouth. With the straw you would have to breath through it and cannot take it out. Most doctors compare this analogy to people that breathe with CF.

What it's like with an oxygen tube:

Many patients use different methods of treating this incurable disease. Regarding, Claire Wineland used an oxygen tube to support her breath intake. This process is commonly noted as "Oxygen Therapy". The oxygen tube is a very common support system. Most commonly the oxygen tube is used for patients who lack support in the respiratory area. The device is made up of two prongs that are placed inside the nostrils for airflow that's connected to an oxygen tank. In most cases, the oxygen tank is portable so it can taken along with the person in case it is needed. Here is a clip of a deep description of how the oxygen tube works.

How can medication help?:

Many people only require medications when one's ill. In my case, I estimate getting ill about four times a year that would require medication. This is not the case for Cystic Fibrosis. Here is a few short examples of a few medications that people with CF take.

Here is a example of the amount of medication a CF patient take's. The patients name is Joshua Hillman

1. Machine therapy (such as Neutralizers, Oxygen tanks etc.)

2. Inhaled mucus thinners

3. Antibiotics (Albuterol, Xopenex, Pulmozyne etc.) Doctors are constantly finding ways to treat this disease. That being said, not every patient uses the same medications.

Now that you are well acquainted with how CF works, what were your biggest takeaways? For me, when I discovered all the responsibilities they take on, I was amazed and humbled by the amount of tolerance that must be met. Countless doctors appointments. Routine hospitalizations with the same medications and constantly fighting the mucus that affects their organs. Do you know anyone with Cystic Fibrosis? Did you ever know they were going through all these routines?