THANK YOU FROM FAMILY

We received the following thank you note from a patient where we helped pay for them to be able to go home on IV's instead of staying in the hospital.

Dear Reaching Out:
Thank you Reaching Out Foundation for making it possible for me to go home on IV's after a long two weeks in the hospital. I battle with insurance so much for coverage on things I need for CF. In my time of need Reaching Out was there for me. Thank you to such a wonderful program and all the special people that donate money to help CF patients and families.
Thanks again, a 34 year old with CF

Swine Flu

Swine Flu and Cystic Fibrosis
What is influenza?
What is swine flu?
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
How does swine flu spread?
Can I get swine flu from eating pork?
Can I get swine flu from taking pancreatic enzymes?
How can I avoid swine flu and other germs?
What should I do if I think I or my child has the flu?
My doctor has prescribed Tamiflu®, but I can’t get it locally. What can I do?
Is the CF Foundation monitoring the swine flu outbreak?
What is influenza?
Influenza (the flu) is an illness caused by a virus. It usually happens in the fall and winter but people can get the flu at other times of the year. The flu is easily spread by direct contact, coughing, sneezing, and when an infected person touches a surface that others then use, like doorknobs and railings. Read this fact sheet to learn more about the flu and ways to avoid getting it.
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What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses, which can cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of chronic medical conditions, like CF.
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What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include:
fever and chills,
cough,
sore throat,
body aches, headache and
fatigue.
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How does swine flu spread?
Spread of the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person when someone with influenza coughs or sneezes. Sometimes a person may become infected with the flu by touching something that has flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
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Can I get swine flu from eating pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products is safe. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F kills the swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.
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Can I get swine flu from taking pancreatic enzymes?
No, you cannot get swine flu from pancreatic enzymes. The virus that causes swine flu is destroyed in the manufacturing process used to make enzymes.
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How can I avoid swine flu and other germs?
There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand gel or soap and water.
Use a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throw it away, then clean your hands.
Keep at least three feet away from others who appear ill or are coughing.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth since germs spread that way.
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What should I do if I think I or my child has the flu?
If you or your child has CF and you think you or they may also have the flu, call your doctor. If you get sick, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. If you have swine flu your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug like Tamiflu® that can modify the severity of your illness.
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My doctor has prescribed Tamiflu®, but I can’t get it locally. What can I do?
CF Services Pharmacy, Inc. has Tamiflu® available for people with CF. You can contact CF Services at (800) 541-4959.
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Is the CF Foundation monitoring the swine flu outbreak?
The Foundation is closely monitoring the evolving swine flu outbreak and will update this site with more information and recommendations as needed.
You can learn more about the swine flu and how to avoid germs from:
The CDC Web site,
The Foundation’s Influenza fact sheet and Respiratory: What You Should Know About Germs, and
Watching the Web cast How to Avoid Germs in CF.
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SWINE FLU

No cases of swine flu have been reported in Georgia as of 4/27/09.

At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we are following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for monitoring our patients. You may see more patients and staff members wearing masks as an extra precaution during your visit.

Below are some frequently asked questions about swine flu. Please ask a Children’s clinician or visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu for more information.

What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by a type of flu virus. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can happen. The influenza is spread by coughing, sneezing and unclean hands.

What can you do to protect yourself?
Limit family members and friends joining you during your visit to the hospital or neighborhood location.
Tell a Children’s staff member if you have visited Mexico or have had contact with a Mexico traveler in the last seven days.
If you or your child has a fever and cough or sore throat, wear a mask-available at the desk or from your nurse.
If you are not in the hospital, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Wash with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing. Some people with swine flu also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Is the swine flu treatable?
There is no vaccine to protect humans against swine flu. There are two antiviral drugs that may be used for the treatment of swine flu: Oseltamivir and Zanamivir.

Is it safe to cook and eat pork and pork products?
Yes. It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked pork and pork products. Swine flu viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products.

Susan Burroughs Wins Inspire Award

At the ING Marathon in Atlanta, team 65 Roses surprised me with the Inspiration Award. What an honor! The trophy says: "

Miles for Cystic Fibrosis Inspire Award 2009
Presented to:
Susan Burroughs
Founder of the Cystic Fibrosis-Reaching Out Foundation
Courageous, Long-Term Lung Transplant Survivor
Champion of People with Cystic Fibrosis
Atlanta, Georgia
March 27, 2009

DAD runs to help baby daughter

Thursday, March 26, 2009 Torry Losch will run in the ING Georgia Marathon on Sunday to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis- Reaching Out Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Losch is running in honor of his 5-month-old daughter, Torianna, who was diagnosed with the disease shortly after she was born.
Special PhotoTorry Losch trains for the marathon on the golf trail in Covington Place subdivision. He ran his first marathon two years ago in Las Vegas, but this time, it’s personal: Losch is running to raise money to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects his 5-month-old daughter.
At a glance
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease. People inherit it from their parents. To inherit cystic fibrosis, a person must inherit two copies of the defective CF gene - one copy from each parent. If both parents are carriers of the CF gene, their child will have a 25 percent chance of inheriting both defective copies and having cystic fibrosis; a 50 percent chance of inheriting one defective copy and being a carrier; and a 25 percent chance of not having CF or carrying the gene.

COVINGTON - Kendra Losch was in her first trimester of pregnancy when she learned she is a carrier for a rare gene that causes cystic fibrosis. Testing on her husband, Torry, revealed he is a carrier, too.That meant their child had a 25 percent chance of inheriting both genes and having the disease.Electing not to have amniocentesis to find out for sure due to the high miscarriage rate that accompanies the procedure, the couple had to wait until their baby girl, Torianna, was three weeks old to learn that she did, in fact, have the disease.That was in October. Now 5 months old, Torianna has trouble gaining weight and digesting food and has had numerous colds that easily turn into infections.She has to take medication before every feeding to help her absorb nutrients and breathing treatments every day to rid her lungs of excessive mucus.Watching their baby deal with a fatal disease is something the Losches never imagined they'd have to face."No one in our family has ever had the disease, so we had no idea we were carriers," Kendra Losch said.Cystic fibrosis is an inherited, chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. It is caused by a defective gene that causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening infections, obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food."When my husband and I found out that our daughter had this disease, we were emotionally devastated. We felt such an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, and we knew that no matter what we did, we could not make this disease go away," Losch said. During the family's first visit to the Children's Cystic Fibrosis Center in Atlanta, they saw a flier advertising the ING Georgia Marathon, and a team called 65 Roses that would be running to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation."Torry looked at me and said, 'This is what I can do for Torianna,'" Losch said.Torry Losch went home and registered for the marathon right away. The big day is this Sunday, where he and about 100 other runners with 65 Roses will take to the streets of Atlanta in hopes of making tomorrow brighter for all who suffer from the rare disease.The marathon is open to anyone and is not specifically intended to raise money for any particular cause. But 65 Roses team members are asking for donations from friends, family and the general public, with 100 percent of proceeds donated to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Reaching Out Foundation to fund research for a cure and treatments as well as help patients purchase medication.Incidentally, the team takes its name from a 4-year-old boy who couldn't pronounce the name of his illness - Cystic Fibrosis - and instead called it "65 roses." That was in 1965, and since then, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has affectionately used the name in its fundraising efforts.About 30,000 people in the country and approximately 800 in Georgia have cystic fibrosis. Torianna is the only sufferer that has been identified in Newton County by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.The disease is so rare, it often doesn't get as much publicity as other illnesses, Losch said, adding that she hopes the marathon will raise awareness as well as money.Great strides have been made in treatment even during the last 15 years. In the early '90s, the median projected life span for sufferers was 17 years. Now, it's almost 37 years. In 1955, children with the disease weren't expected to live to attend elementary school.Just three years ago, when Losch gave birth to her first daughter, who does not have the disease, newborns were not tested for the disease in Georgia, she said.It's her hope that more advances will be made so that Torianna will live to see the day a cure is discovered."When it's your child, you want her to be healthy and have a long life and do things other people get to do," she said.As she gets older, Torianna will develop a persistent cough and will have to continue with medication and the breathing treatments and subsist on a high-protein, high-fat diet to get proper nutrition."This will be a disease she'll have to live with the rest of her life. She'll have to take good care of herself," Losch said.And one day, Losch hopes, Torianna can live free of the bondage of the disease."Today cystic fibrosis is an incurable disease but through donations, we can help fund research to find a cure so that one day CF will stand for 'cure found,'" she said. To make a donation to team 65 Roses, visit http://www.milesforcysticfibrosis.org/ and click on the Atlanta link.

CF FAMILY CONNECTION

Introducing the new CF Family Connection …
an opportunity to network with other CF family members through educational programs and social gatherings!
2009 Calendar of Events- ATLANTA

JAN 15 Educational program
MAR 19 Social gathering
MAY 21 Educational program
JUL 16 Social gathering
SEP 17 Educational program
NOV 12 Social gathering
For more information or to be added to our email list, please contact
Lynda Ratmeyer-Fleming at ratmeyerfleming@yahoo.com or 770-716-2639

Sponsored by the CF Family Advisory Council

DREW'S VIEWS

May 31, 1988: The day I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Ironically, on this same exact day, one of my cousins was in the hospital having a portion of her liver removed due to cancer. What a coincidence that the two of us were simultaneously fighting similar, yet completely different, battles. Unfortunately, my cousin’s battle with cancer ended shortly after my diagnosis.
This story is symbolic of my life with cystic fibrosis. As my parents were learning this critical news about their two-year-old daughter, they knew my cousin was fighting a tougher battle. Therefore, from the moment I was diagnosed, self-pity was not a dominant theme in our lives. Rather than letting CF be a decision-maker, we decided to fight CF.
There are two ways of living with a chronic illness like CF – 1) allow the illness to define who you are, or 2) define yourself as a person, while CF is simply an attribute. Thankfully, I chose the second option and let my own life goals take precedence over the fact that I have CF. If CF were my primary driver, it would be tough to accomplish as much as I have.
It’s very easy to use CF as an excuse to develop a defeatist mindset, but that’s not going to get us anywhere. Yes, CF can be a comfortable and “legitimate” reason to forego great opportunities. However, do you want to spend your entire life waiting in the wings because you have a good excuse to be cautious?
Sometimes we’d rather dwell on the illness than live our life. We’ve all probably been there at some point, but the mental fight is just as important as the physical battle. Here is a quotation by Mary Kay Ash that I love: “Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway.”
If you’re reading this, you’re obviously not as unaware as the bumble bee. However, I’m sure we could all benefit from the bumble bee’s perspective on life. Buzzzz!
Until Next Time,
Drew
drewdotson@gmail.com