Re: Sara, parents of our children's friends

[Guest guest]

I realize Zach is a toddler so high school graduation is just a

> glimmer down the road right now, but I hope this gives you a small

> measure of hope for his bright future -- with friends.

>

> Kim

> Mom of (24 with CF) and (20 1/2 no CF)

Kim,

Thank you for sharing your wonderful letter and stories about your

son. It does give me hope for new friends in our future.

Every parent hopes their child makes friends easily and is not the

object of ridicule and I guess CF parents might worry more than

most. I do hope the parents of his friends are open to helping us

store meds, do cpt, etc. But if not, I hope they at least welcome

Zach into their lives because he is truly a wonderful little guy.

Sara - mommy to Zach 18 months wcf

[Guest guest]

I LOVED THE LETTER KIM!!! You have such away with words!!! is lucky to

have a Mom like you!! Deb A

[Guest guest]

Gosh, Deb. Thanks so much.

If you think that letter was something and had and me in tears,

then you should have seen what I wrote the night before he left home

from college! I was a MESS and had to have some outlet, so I sat down

and just started writing... and ended up sending it to Cystic-L

entitled, " Melancholy Baby. "

It's hard to believe that was five years ago and he's already

graduated college.

Anyway, that first letter, the high school graduation one -- after

read it she asked, " Ohh, will you write one like that for me

too when I graduate high school? "

That really got me thinking. doesn't have CF, and I've always

strived to treat my kids equally and give them equal quality time. So

what would be the theme of a letter for her, and to whom would I send

it.

You see, 's high school graduation letter was specific to CF

because he'd reached such a milestone. When he was diagnosed in 1983,

the average life expectancy had just been raised from age 12 to age

17, so high school and living to reach high school was really a

feeling of over-reaching the averages.

But I was able to put together a letter for -- as a tribute to

" the one without CF. " And I think the greatest gifts I got from that

letter was a very quiet thank you from an adult sibling without CF.

His sister, who had CF and was one of my most cherished friends in the

world, died unexpectedly just six months before 's high school

graduation. So May 2001, was a really rough time: the six month

anniversary of my friend's death, 's graduation, and her senior

dance recital.

If I'd bought stock in Puffs back then, I'd be rolling in the money

now!

Kim

--- gdattig5@a... wrote:

I LOVED THE LETTER KIM!!! You have such away with words!!! is

lucky to have a Mom like you!! Deb A