January 31, 2012

Dandelion Wishes



This news is big. HUGE in fact. This is the first time that there has been a drug to tackle the root cause of Cystic Fibrosis and not just a symptom. People throw around the word CURE left and right, and this my friends is the closest thing to a cure that I believe we will see.

More than 1,000 mutations in the CFTR gene have been identified in people with CF. I have the classic and most common ΔF508, and one other mutation.  This drug, which was approved by the FDA today is for only one of these mutations, G551D, as far as I understand. While G551D is NOT the most common, it causes CF in about 4% of the CF population, some 1,200 people in the United States. I have heard of other CF friends (G551D's) who were participants in the trial phases of Kalydeco, and who claimed it was immensely helpful.

Just to clarify, since this is my blog, this drug will probably not affect me. Not only am I the wrong mutation, but I am post transplant and so my health worries lie elsewhere, such as infection/rejection. Even if they were to develop a drug for ΔF508's, in a way it is too late in my own life. At most I could imagine it helping perhaps with my sinuses and G.I.

But that is not what I want to talk about.

I want to talk about my childhood prayers. My wishes on every birthday cake. My wish for every dandelion I blew into the wind.

A cure for CF.

And although I am fully aware that this is not exactly a cure for all CFers, I now have hope for that dream. For those babies being born today with the gene mutation of G551D, it is coming true.
This might snowball into other drugs being developed for other CFTR mutations.

If just one child can be spared the suffering and pain I have had to endure because of Cystic Fibrosis, than my wish has come true.

1,200 people being CURED.  What an awesome, amazing, exciting day in the CF community.
And ΔF508 is next guys, just wait and see.  Correcting G551D shows that it is possible.
We're coming up!

If anybody reading this has ever donated money to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation I want to tell you, as I hold back the tears - THANK YOU. It certainly has helped a hell of a lot during my lifetime!

Thank you God, from whom all blessings flow ...

January 11, 2012

Lemonades


I love having a lemon tree. Picked, washed and squeezed up some fresh lemonade from our yard this afternoon.  It was a gorgeous day, a flip-flop, walk-to-places-instead-of-drive kind of a day. And if anyone near wants some lemons, swing by, because there is still more than plenty hanging on our tree.

"I love you making lemonades" - Aiden (to me)

January 06, 2012


song of the day. been slinking around the house to the non acoustic version of this song all week long.  pretending i'm sexier than i really am.

today is the last day of christmas break.  i love levi to death - but i am so ready to send him back to school.  i don't know how people homeschool.  props to ya all.

January 03, 2012

it's more fun this way