Elsie's CF Story
Courtney Bolton
Fundraising for East Tennessee Great Strides 2026
Courtney Bolton
Our 3 month old daughter, Elsie, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at birth. CF is a genetic, progressive, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently.
Our personal journey so far looks like digestive enzymes before every meal due to pancreatic insufficiency and nutrient malabsorption, as well a bronchodilator inhaler medication and chest percussion therapy twice a day to prevent and clear sticky, bacteria-trapping mucus from building up in her lungs. Elsie also requires special vitamins so that her body can absorb them, as well as salt added to her diet. She experiences regular tummy upset and GI symptoms such as reflux and GERD that are exacerbated by her condition, as well as difficulty putting on and maintaining weight. We currently visit the CF clinic monthly, where Elsie has/will have regular sputum culture checks, pulmonary function tests, chest x-rays, and lab work. In the future, Elsie will be eligible for a High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation vest, as well as life-altering CF medications, which will help to halt lung damage progression. Unfortunately, some CFrs with less common mutations do not respond to the new medications that have been so helpful for others. That's why it's crucial that research continue to be done.
A long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. While progress has been made, there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, and too many people with CF die young. I’m walking to help change that reality. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.
Will you help us end cystic fibrosis?
By donating to my fundraising goal, you have the power to advance the research and science needed to drive our shared dream forward – a cure for everyone with CF.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently.
Our personal journey so far looks like digestive enzymes before every meal due to pancreatic insufficiency and nutrient malabsorption, as well a bronchodilator inhaler medication and chest percussion therapy twice a day to prevent and clear sticky, bacteria-trapping mucus from building up in her lungs. Elsie also requires special vitamins so that her body can absorb them, as well as salt added to her diet. She experiences regular tummy upset and GI symptoms such as reflux and GERD that are exacerbated by her condition, as well as difficulty putting on and maintaining weight. We currently visit the CF clinic monthly, where Elsie has/will have regular sputum culture checks, pulmonary function tests, chest x-rays, and lab work. In the future, Elsie will be eligible for a High-Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation vest, as well as life-altering CF medications, which will help to halt lung damage progression. Unfortunately, some CFrs with less common mutations do not respond to the new medications that have been so helpful for others. That's why it's crucial that research continue to be done.
A long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. While progress has been made, there is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis, and too many people with CF die young. I’m walking to help change that reality. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.
Will you help us end cystic fibrosis?
By donating to my fundraising goal, you have the power to advance the research and science needed to drive our shared dream forward – a cure for everyone with CF.
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