When my daughter, Kyleigh, was born, I had no idea that a genetic disease called cystic fibrosis would shape every moment of our lives. CF is a life-shortening condition affecting nearly 40,000 individuals—it devastates the lungs, pancreas, and vital organs, making it difficult to breathe and fight off life-threatening infections.

Kyleigh’s diagnosis didn't come easily. For nine agonizing months in 1997-8, my concerns as a new mom were dismissed. Back then, living on the island of Bermuda, we had limited access to the internet. When her symptoms finally prompted a doctor to look deeper, we were handed a terrifying new medical term: cystic fibrosis. I turned to my parenting books, only to read a few brutal paragraphs stating that children with CF had a life expectancy of just 17 to 25 years, and there was no cure.

Determined to save my daughter, we relocated home to California to receive care at Stanford Hospital. In those early days, advanced genetic sequencing was out of reach for everyday families. But I knew the truth of science: to find a cure, researchers needed to pinpoint the exact location of those altered genes.

In February of 1998, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation handed me a massive binder full of guidance, treatment plans, and research updates. Right then, I knew I couldn't sit back. I volunteered immediately and walked in my very first CF Foundation fundraiser that same year. Over the last 29 years, the Foundation has driven the science forward—making gene testing accessible, unlocking the specifics of Kyleigh's genetics, and funding groundbreaking clinical trials we directly participated in.

Beyond the science, the CF Foundation has been our rock. Kyleigh is 29 now, and her journey has included countless hospital stays and two double lung transplants—her second just recently in October 2024. Through every high and low, the Foundation was right beside us in the hospital, bringing care kits, meals, and comforting support so I never had to leave my daughter's side.

Today, Kyleigh is fighting her way back step-by-step. She has lived a vibrant, courageous life—traveling the world even in the days leading up to her emergency transplant. She may not laugh as easily as she once did, but because of advances in research, she is living.

This is why I need your help today.

We are closer than ever, but we cannot stop until there is a cure for every single person fighting this disease. By donating to my fundraising goal, you directly power the scientific research needed to end CF once and for all. Your contribution isn't just money—it is the gift of hope, breathing room, and a future filled with moments of joy.

Will you join us in ending cystic fibrosis?

Every dollar brings us one step closer to a cure. Please consider making a donation today to help my daughter and thousands like her live long, healthy lives.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and generosity.