My Great Strides Story
Alyssa Cress
Fundraising for Kansas City Great Strides
Alyssa Cress
There are nearly 40,000 Americans living with cystic fibrosis. They are moms, dads, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons, and friends who struggle every day just to breathe.
CF is a genetic, 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.
CF is a genetic, 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.
The donations given to the CF Foundation don't just support research and provide resources... they extend lives. It gives people like Adam another day with their kids. It adds years and memories and quality of life that many of these people didn't expect to have.
Many of you don't know the ins and outs of living with Cystic Fibrosis. I didn't either until I met Adam in 2014. After our first date, I googled "Cystic Fibrosis" and learned that people with CF spend a large portion of their day doing breathing treatments to clear their lungs.
- I learned that there was a good possibility that Adam and I would not be able to have children naturally.
- I learned that a common cold will warrant a hospital stay, a picc line with IV antibiotics, and two weeks of home health care visits.
- And the biggest shock...I learned that the average lifespan of a person with CF is 40. Last November, we celebrated Adam's 42nd birthday. A huge milestone for someone with CF.
Thanks to advances in research supported by donors like YOU, Adam was able to begin taking Trikafta, the "miracle drug" in 2019. He takes many drugs that greatly enhance his quality of life but these are not just drugs that make him feel better. They keep him out of the hospital so that he can be home at night to tuck his kids into bed. These drugs give us more days and more memories while the CF Foundation works tirelessly to find a cure.
Support comes in all forms. If you are not able to donate, we appreciate your ability to raise awareness. Awareness opens eyes and brings life to the cause and is an integral part of supporting the mission. I walk for my husband and the 40,000 Americans with CF.
Will you help us end Cystic Fibrosis? Come walk with me.
Will you help us end Cystic Fibrosis? Come walk with me.
Breathe Easy, friends.
Achievements
Recent Donations
Anonymous$87
Anonymous$36
Anonymous$306
Derrick & Virginia Cress$50
Susan Erdman$50
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