Special Family Network

Luke Anthony does not let Cystic Fibrosis nor his blindness stop him from reaching his dreams. Read about this exceptional young man in this article.

This is a pretty amazing video about a 45 year old man with Cystic Fibrosis. He is happily married with two children. This is particularly awesome considering that not too long ago people with CF usually did not live past the age of 10. I am so hopeful that sometime in the near future children with CF will not wonder how long they live, but thing about how much they will have to save to retire comfortably.

This is an informative video from the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation on the person’s 7th chromosome. This mutation is inherited from both parents. Many times the parent is unaware that they are carriers for this disorder until they have a child born with it. Common symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis include salty-tasting skin, foul-smelling stools, greasy stools, delayed growth, frequent infections, especially of the respiratory tract, coughing and wheezing, and rounded, or clubbed, fingers and toes.

Cystic Fibrosis can be diagnosed by a procedure called a Sweat Test. In a Sweat Test, sweat is collect from the individual and is analyzed for the amount of sodium chloride in the sample. People with CF have an unusually high amount of sodium chloride in their sweat. This is why a person with CF might taste salty if you kiss them. CF can also be diagnosed by a gene test where a sample of blood is taken and then analyzed to see if the person has inherited a mutation of the 7th chromosome from both parents.

In some parts of the world, testing for CF in newborns has become a requirement. It is estimated that 1 in 25 persons of Caucasian decent carry the CF mutation. If a person with the CF mutation marries another with the CF mutation, they have a 25% chance of having a child with Cystic Fibrosis.

Articles Please click on the link to read the full article

Canadian scientist have found a way to kill the Cystic Fibrosis Superbug, Burkholderia cenocepacia

A British scientist has used genetic material from the HIV virus to correct the Cystic Fibrosis gene.

Clinical Trials are underway to improve the lives of those who have Cystic Fibrosis.

Read how the Philadelphia Phillies are helping a young boy with Cystic Fibrosis see his dreams come true.

It can be difficult to find out that you and your spouse are carriers of a potentially deadly disease like Cystic Fibrosis. It is even worse when you find out with the birth of your child. I’ve even heard of parents finding out that their older child has the disease after the younger child is diagnosis. Here is the story of two siblings with Cystic Fibrosis. For more information on Cystic Fibrosis visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.