Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

· clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and

· obstructs that pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with Cystic Fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s, and beyond.

Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis

People with CF can have a variety of symptoms, including:

· very salty-tasting skin;

· persistent coughing, at time with phlegm;

· frequent lung infections;

· wheezing or shortness of breath;

· poor growth/weight gain in spite of good appetite; and

· frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements.

Statistics

· About 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed each year.

· More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two.

· More than 40% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older.

· In 2008, the predicted median age of survival is 37 years.

There was some good news to report in the fight against the dreaded genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis this past week. Some new drugs have been tested and are getting ready to be released. These new drugs represent one of the biggest breakthroughs in Cystic Fibrosis research in years.

The Maryland Chapter has been extremely busy the past few weeks with 14 Great Strides Walks through out the state. The Steve Krulevitz Tennis Camp Counselors and friends sponsored a team for the first ever CF walk in Towson, Maryland at the Towson Courthouse Plaza. This team didn’t just consist of Baltimore tennis pros, but a few ex-professional ATP stars and a Grand Slam winner helped support the cause. California’s Brian Teacher, Andy Kohlberg and Bob Moore, General Manager of KCBS-FM Radio, were instrumental in making the day a huge success. The first ever CF Great Strides Walk in Towson raised a whopping $50,000. Ninety percent of every dollar donated goes toward research. We are getting closer to the cure every day. The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to assure the development of the means to cure and control Cystic Fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.

Unfortunately, with the great things happening in the world of CF research there will always be loved ones and heroes who are not winning the battle against CF. One of those people is our dear friend Tricia Bowley. When you talk about toughness, courage, and a true hero, one has to place Tricia (a.k.a. Little Taz) at the top of any list. At the age of 33, Tricia went to Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina and received a double lung transplant. She got married soon after to the vivacious and terrific Jeff Carlson and returned to working with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation -Maryland Chapter. Now at 38, Tricia’s health has been deteriorating rapidly for the past eight months. She is on oxygen every minute of everyday and recently has been taken under care by Hospice. The medical team at Duke has made an extremely agonizing decision not to attempt a second double lung transplant.

While waiting for news of a possible second transplant, Tricia and Jeff have been living near Duke Hospital in North Carolina. Everyday Tricia dedicates herself to four hours of physical therapy at the Duke Outpatient Rehab Center. She has put in so much work and is determined to stay physically and mentally strong. Tricia and Jeff are moving back to Baltimore to resume their lives among their family and friends.

Everyone who is involved in the battle against Cystic Fibrosis and the many, many friends and acquaintances are praying for you Tricia and wishing you well.

Strength and Honor!