Pictured above with me is my nephew, Kyle Carpenter Palumbo. I gave him the nickname of SweetPea when he was two years old. The name was cute back then, but now that Kyle is in elementary school I’m not sure it fits, anymore. Recently, I picked him up from school. He was walking down the hall with a few buddies when I spotted him. I waved as if I were guiding a 747 in for a landing and yelled, “Hey, SweetPea! I’m over here!”
Now, we all think our children, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren are the most amazing, perfect beings we ‘ll ever have the pleasure of knowing....and we’re right. That’s exactly how I feel about Kyle, and not just because he pulled me aside that day and said, “Aunt C.J., I know you think SweetPea is a cute nickname and that’s nice for you, but can you only call me that when we’re at home?” Kyle is so wonderful for the grace and strength he’s shown dealing with the disease, Cystic Fibrosis.
CF is a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems. The glands that produce mucus, saliva, and intestinal fluids do not work properly. Therefore, these body fluids are thicker and stickier than normal. This can cause a buildup of fluids leading to the many problems seen in CF such as persistent respiratory infections and pneumonia. There are approximately 30,000 people in the United States with CF, 3,000 in Canada and 30,000 in other areas of the world. In the U.S., there are approximately 2,500 new cases diagnosed each year. Currently, there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis, but there are many promising new treatments in use and even more on the horizon. The median life expectancy for a person with CF is now 32 and only thirty years ago, a CF patient was not expected to reach adulthood.
Take another look at my nephew’s picture again. This kid can tell you every name of every animal known to man. Yes, his Gameboy has become an extension of his right arm. Yes, trying to get this kid out of bed and on the school bus on time can be a challenge, but there is nothing more perfect than the love he shares in his smile, his laugh or one of his bear hugs. Most importantly, he’s my SweetPea and he has a disease that needs to be cured. Please take the time to connect to the Cystic Fibrosis web site, and learn about what we all can do to make a difference in conquering this disease.
Thank you.
CJ Carpenter
‘Aunt Ceej’ to my nephew.
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