Cystic fibrosis
What is cystic fibrosis?
I am posting about Cystic Fibrosis because my husbands sister has a child with this disease and has suffered through long stays in the hospital from time to time. As growing up he played hockey which is credited to him living to age 20.
Early this morning we got a phone call that he is in the hospital suffering with a knife stabbing to the lung. He was out with his older sister at the big mall and was called to defend a girl from some shady characters. When a knife was drawn and Nephew was stabbed.
We are really worried about him but as we live in another province and can be there in a moment, we ask God to take this worry and care for it for us. I am praying constantly today for him.
This part of the story is to try spread the word about this disease and how we can help fellow Canadians. I think if you know what this disease is about you would understand how any little help is great help.
This was written by www.cysticfibrosis.ca
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common, fatal genetic disease affecting young Canadians. CF is a multi-organ disease affecting primarily the lungs and the digestive system. In the lungs, CF causes severe breathing problems. A build-up of thick mucus makes it difficult to clear bacteria and leads to cycles of infection and inflammation, which damage the delicate lung tissues. They must follow a demanding daily routine of physical therapy to keep the lungs free of congestion and infection.
In the digestive tract, CF makes it extremely difficult to digest and absorb adequate nutrients from food. Thick mucus blocks the ducts of the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to digest food. Therefore, persons with CF must consume a large number of artificial enzymes (on average 20 pills a day) with every meal and snack, to help them absorb adequate nutrition from their food.
How many Canadians have cystic fibrosis?
It is estimated that one in every 3,600 children born in Canada has CF.
At the present time, approximately 3,500 children, adolescents, and adults with cystic fibrosis attend specialized CF clinics.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis?
* difficulty breathing;
* constant cough which expels thick mucus;
* excessive appetite, with weight loss;
* bowel disturbances;
* skin which tastes salty;
* repeated or prolonged bouts of pneumonia;
* failure to thrive.
CF was first described as a disease in the late 1930s. At that time, it was usually recognized only after a child had died, often as a result of malnutrition or pneumonia. Medical awareness of CF has increased tremendously over the years. Nevertheless, cystic fibrosis can still be confused with other common diseases — such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or pneumonia, and celiac disease.
What Causes Cystic Fibrosis?
People are born with cystic fibrosis; it is a genetic disorder.
Approximately one in every 25 Canadians carries a defective version of the gene responsible for CF. A carrier has only one copy of the gene responsible for CF. Carriers do not have cystic fibrosis, and can never get the disease. In most cases, they are not even aware that they are carriers, because they do not have cystic fibrosis, or any of its symptoms.
When two people who carry a defective version of the gene responsible for CF have a child, there is:
* a 25% chance that the child will be born with cystic fibrosis;
* a 50% chance that the child will not have CF, but will be a carrier;
* a 25% chance that the child will not have CF, and will not be a carrier.
With each pregnancy, the risks are exactly the same. Two carrier parents may have several children with CF or none at all.
Please help if you can, check out their site and donate. please
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