I’m not sure I have a stronger memory than that of the day we became involved with Cystic Fibrosis. My youngest Hazel was only a few weeks old, I was sitting in the rocking chair nursing this perfect little baby when the phone rang. It was her pediatrician. They simply said the newborn screen came back, there was an abnormality with her Cystic Fibrosis screen. I started crying before they could say anything else. I had studied cystic fibrosis in school, I knew how devastating the disease could be. My older daughter, then 3 1/2, came running over hugging me asking what was wrong. My husband happened to be working at home and heard the commotion and came out to see what was going on. I ignored them all, listening only to what the nurse was saying. Cystic Fibrosis is part of the normal newborn screening, an abnormal result does not mean she has the disease, further testing is needed, here is a number to call. Thankfully living in South Florida we have a Cystic Fibrosis clinic nearby to do the testing, unfortunately we got the call on a Friday, they had no openings until Monday. We then spent the weekend doing what no parent should but every parent does, we googled Cystic Fibrosis. After a fretful weekend of reading, worrying, planning, and licking our baby (babies with CF taste saltier) we went for the test. It is a simple test, they collect some sweat which is easy to do in the summer in Florida. The result came later in the day. We got the best news possible, she is just a carrier. A symptomless carrier. We do not have to worry about years of pills, treatments, sickness, hospitals, and the very real fact that our daughter would die before us. 

We made a promise that day to be involved with the fight against Cystic Fibrosis. So every year we walk, we raise money, we spread awareness hoping for a cure. When Hazel was born the average life expectancy for someone with CF was 30, now it is a little over 50. Those are some great strides, but so much more needs to be done.