Today's "CF Champions" spotlight are team Light Beer's Andrea and Alyson:
It is easy to see how hockey mirrors Andrea and Alyson's "behind the scenes" efforts as they faceoff
each day against their opponent, Cystic Fibrosis. In competing against
this life-limiting disease, discipline and perseverance are needed,
just like the countless hours of practice spent on the ice. Their
routine includes: daily regiments of pills (more than 20 each),
nutritional supplements, additional calories, inhaled medications, Vest
treatments - which provide vital air-way clearance, and rigorous
huff-coughing - and that is all when they are healthy! These are the shots that they take every day to make their lives longer and stronger.
At age 13,
Andrea and Alyson have stayed relatively healthy. Their past medical
history, as is the case with most of those living with cystic fibrosis,
has included numerous hospitalizations, multiple surgeries, and rounds
of intravenous antibiotics. On the outside, they look like normal
teenagers, but on the inside, a daily
shootout is taking place against cystic fibrosis. Their daily shots on goal,
the advances in medication and treatments, the constant vigilance from
their physicians and care team, and the support of family and friends
like you have been and remain essential in adding tomorrows to Andrea
and Alyson's lives.
We are watching with great excitement
several drugs that are in the research pipeline and in Clinical Drug
Trials with the FDA. These drugs target those like Andrea and Alyson,
80% of the cystic fibrosis population, who are living with the most
common genetic mutation that causes cystic fibrosis. Raising funds and
spreading awareness about the disease in order to help find a cure and
ensure access to needed healthcare is more important now than ever! We
are in a power play situation and definitely
making shots on goal. Thank you for all of your support.
-- The Hoffman Family
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Andrea and Alyson are the daughters of one of the CF Foundation
Board Members, David Hoffman.
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