Reese was born on April 12, 2013 in Plattsburgh, NY. She was a perfectly beautiful baby girl at 6lbs 12oz. Just 2 weeks later, Reese was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis off of her newborn screening. The diagnosis was earth shattering.

Cystic Fibrosis is a life threatening disease that affects the lungs, liver and pancreas. Mucus tends to be thicker due to less sodium in the body. This causes mucus to back up in the lungs resulting in severe lung infections that deteriorate the lungs over time causing the need for transplant and/or leading to a very shortened life span.

A majority of the CF population also have a pancreas that does not function properly, therefore not releasing digestive enzymes. This issue with the pancreas causes the person to not absorb fat, calories and vitamins properly; all of which need to be supplemented to make sure the proper nutrition is provided.

Cystic Fibrosis in children is a chronic, progressive disorder. Recent advances in the care of patients combined with an aggressive, early approach to treatment has resulted in much better rates of survival. The average life expectancy in 2018 was just 37 years old.

Reese is a happy and healthy almost 12 year old. She is enjoying her new school, achieving high honor roll, playing clarinet in the middle school band and is currently enrolled in 4 dance classes a week (2 of which are competition classes that travel everywhere in NYS as well as Massachusetts. Reese also enjoys snuggling her 2 cats (Jazz and Pancake) and our 2 doodles (Mac and Rip).

Reese is starting to advocate for herself in clinic, is now self-administering her own medications as well as setting up her nightly breathing treatments all on her own. Reese started the newer modulator medication for her mutatation, Trikafta; a couple years ago and it has been life changing. Instead of fluid in her lungs and antibiotics every 3 months as well as GI issues, Reese has been clear of most illnesses since starting Trikafta Reese has now just had the most perfect CF clinic visit that she's had in 3 months.

Great Strides is a fun, family-friendly event that raises awareness and support for people with CF and their families.

Help me reach my fundraising goal by donating to Great Strides and our team "Reese's Pieces of Hope". Since starting our team in 2013; our team has raised over $15,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation! Your donation will help add tomorrows to the lives of people with Cystic Fibrosis, like my beautiful daughter, by supporting life-saving research and medical progress. Your gift is 100% tax deductible.

The whole "Reese's Pieces of Hope" team thanks you for all of the continued support for finding a cure!

- Erika Anderson 💜