Andy is a 4 year old boy.  He loves to play ball (soccer, t-ball & basketball), swim and play with his little brother.  He runs and jumps and plays in rain puddles.  He is super sweet.  And, he has Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

In CF patients, the CFTR protein on their DNA is defective causing the sodium choloride in their bodies to naturally not flush bacteria away in their bodies. In return, thick sticky mucus clogs passageways/pores throughout their bodies such as their lungs, pancreas, liver, reproductive systems, etc. Andy has had a very rough start to 2011. He has already been hospitalized 4 times this year. 3 of the hospitalizations were for a CF condition called DIOS (Distal Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome). This is when thick mucus starts to form in the colon and when this occurs it causes bowel obstuctions where the feces cannot be passed. Andy has had 2 NG tubes so far inserted through his nose, down his throat and into his stomach all while being awake so they can drip laxative directly into his stomach to allow him to pass this feces. The tube was left in 24 hours both times. Along with the other many meds, Andy has added 2-3 laxative treatments to his daily regimen at home. While Andy was hospitalized the third time, the doctors found that Andy’s liver is clogging with mucus making him on the advanced side of liver disease. Andy has been put on a liver drug called Urosdiol. This researched drug will keep the bile in his liver soft and flowing, but his liver can take this for only so long. By his early to mid teens, Andy will need a liver transplant.

Through all this, he is still that sweet, vibrant 4 year old!

On May 21st I will be walking for Andy.  I’m also donating a necklace for their raffle and selling my jewelry.  A percentage of the proceeds will go to CF.  Please help me help Andy, his amazing family, and all those with CF.  Let’s find a cure!

If you’d like to donate, and any amount will be truly appreciated, please click on the button above.

Thank you SO much!