introduction

[Guest guest]

Hello! I wanted to send a short message to introduce myself. I am mother

of Steph who will soon be 18 in November. She was diagnosed with CF when

she was 5. She also has episodic arthritis and asthma. She is a very

active girl. Until last year at this time she had been involved in

dance(tap,ballet,jazz,point and competition team). She also is involved in

drill team at her school. Last year was a bad year for us. She had to give

up her dancing except for point class because she just wasn't able to keep

up.

She thought that this was the beginning of the down hill of CF. She was

sick allot with colds and coughing and her arthritis stuff.

She just went into the hospital for her first tune-up in June. We found out

when she was in that all of these problems were asthma related. She has

been feeling a little better since then but is still struggling with getting

the asthma in check. We really are to very lucky and I find it hard

sometimes to see her struggle. All these kids want is to just be like all

the rest of the kids. What they just don't know is that those kids have

something they are having to deal with also. Just different. I am looking

forward to being a part of this group. I know in the next few years it will

be a change for us. The not having medical insurance, if she chooses not to

go to college, and can't be on my insurance, scares me to death. Thanks for

listening.

Tina