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Jennifer Ferguson
Jennifer Ferguson was born and raised in Wichita. She graduated from Bishop Carroll High School in 1990. She received her B.A. in Sociology and Psychology from Kansas State University and her Master's Degree in Higher Education Administration from Michigan State University. After living in San Diego for 5 years, she recently moved back to Wichita to have help from Grandma and Grandpa Phil and Margaret Walker with Ashton's health issues. Her husband, Matt, works for Sedgwick County's office of Metropolitan Medical Response System. Jennifer is currently a stay-at-home mom to her only child Ashton who has Cystic Fibrosis. You may contact Jennifer by e-mail at: jeninac@yahoo.com
Health & Medicine
2003-04-01 10:06:00
Diagnosis CF...what now?
:  We have just recently received a diagnosis on our 4-year old son that he has cystic fibrosis.  For a long time we thought it was asthma... so did the doctors.  We have heard so many horror stories, are there any other parents out there who can help us realize what is ahead for us and him?
ANSWER:  From one parent of a child with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) to another, I understand how scared you must be. The diagnosis of any chronic disease for a child can be devastating. I clearly remember that my family felt that the world was crashing in on us when the neonatologist told us that our son, Ashton, had CF. He was born 11 weeks premature due to a blocked intestine which we later learned was caused by CF. We went through a stage of disbelief, then anger and now acceptance. Our lives now revolve around caring for our son and trying to raise money for a cure. Cystic Fibrosis causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus which obstructs the lungs and pancreas making it hard to breathe and gain weight. Persistent coughing is another common symptom.  Many children are misdiagnosed with asthma or allergies. The bad news is that your son has CF. The good news is, you can start treating him and getting adjusted to your new life. Now that your son has been diagnosed, you can be proactive in his treatment by educating yourself. Learn as much as you can about Cystic Fibrosis, the medications he will be taking and the therapy you will give him. Your son has a few changes in store for him. First, at every meal, he will need to take digestive enzymes that will help him absorb the nutrients. Your CF dietician will help you determine how many pills he will need to take and draw up a meal plan. Second, he will need extra fat and calories in his diet. CF kids have a hard time gaining weight so the more fat he can have, the better. Third, your son will need Chest Percussion Therapy (CPT). This requires vigorous percussion (by using cupped hands) to dislodge the thick mucus from the lungs. Fourth, do everything you can to keep your son healthy and active. Try to avoid others who are ill and encourage frequent hand washing.  And finally, your son will experience periodic infections that may require hospitalizations and IV antibiotics. Always remember that your son is a child first and a child with CF second. Allow him to have as normal a childhood as possible. Keep a positive attitude and love him with all your heart. For more information about CF, visit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation website at http://www.cff.org/ 
 
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