If you follow me on instagram, I know you’ve seen my uber-adorable grandniece!
Doctors told my niece she would probably never be able to get pregnant. Obviously, God had something else to say about that, but the unexpected timing meant that Sarah wasn’t done with her education degree before Riley came along. So, while Sarah is student teaching, we play with a baby.
There’s something besides her sweet personality and total adorableness that makes this little gal special: at nine days old, Riley was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Sarah (a.k.a. “Riley’s mommy”) is fundraising for the annual “Great Strides” Walk to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and I’d like to help her.
Top Ten Reasons to Contribute to Great Strides:
1) May is cystic fibrosis awareness month — coming up soon!
2) Great progress has already been made. In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30’s and beyond.
3) But 30+ years isn’t very old. I want my grandniece to grow old enough not only to have kids of her own, but old enough even to know and love her grand-babies.
4) Over 30,000 Americans (and over 70,000 people worldwide) live with this disease; it affects the lungs and the digestive system, which can make daily life difficult.
{Riley will get a vest like the one in the video when she is a little older. Right now, this is done manually, twice a day.}
5) An event like this offers encouragement to ALL those affected by cystic fibrosis, both the patients and everyone who loves them!
6) Thanks to research, medication has stopped progression of the disease in 5% of cystic fibrosis cases! This is great news, but there is currently no treatment for Riley’s mutation of CF — yet. More clinical trials are being done, and other CF patients are hopeful they will soon have the same kind of victory.
7) About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year.
8) Cystic fibrosis is an inherited genetic disease, but over 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers. We had no idea anyone in the family was a carrier; this means someone you love could be a carrier, too.
9) This little gal — the smiliest baby I’ve ever known — has already had one lung-related hospital stay. I don’t like that.
10) Top reason to donate: HOW can you resist a face like that!?!
Please consider donating any amount. Even $1 goes a long way to offer encouragement that there are lots of people who care! I’d love for my niece to see all sorts of $1 (or more, if you want) donations from blogland! Just click HERE to add your contribution — and please add a little something in the comment area about See Jamie Blog or “friend of Aunt Jamie” so Sarah will know where these donations are coming from! 😉
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
(See more “Top Ten Tuesday” posts.)
Wife, mama, homeschooler, dog-wrangler. Introvert who finds joy in good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Fitness enthusiast and strength coach. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand.
I just made a donation. I hope Sarah exceeds her goal! Praying for little Riley!
Thank you!!!
I will be sharing this post! I have two nephews with CF, they are in college and high school. Our family has attended many walks over the years. There has been much progress over the years, with continued support and awareness there will be more. God bless your family!
Thanks for the link to contribute! She is too adorable!!!! And the video had me crying.
She is adorable. My husband was diagnosed with CF at 18 months of age. Today he is 37-almost 38 years old and is doing great. There was a lot of rocky years but with so many advancements in medicine, some years he is healthier than me or his two boys. God is the healer of all. Prayers for you and your family. We have done the walk for the past several years. its a great way to get the word out.
It wasn’t until going through infertility treatments that I found out that I was a carrier of CF. Sending lots of prayers for such a sweet little one!
So much happening in your life lately. Your heart must be in tatters.
Good luck to Sarah in reaching her goal!
Cystic fibrosis is such a scary illness. I hope everyone who is diagnosed will keep strong to fight this illness.
Anyway, the second to the last photo was so nice. I love her cute toothless smile, can really relieve stress.
Great top 10 reasons to contribute to great strides, thanks to share this wonderful post.
Nicole Martin