Rebecca Billiel, age 7 and Diana Smith, age 17 of Michigan were chosen as the areas representatives for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The girls and their families will be at the Great Strides walk to not only raise money for a cure, but to bring about awareness of the disease.
"We need to get people to realize what this disease is and what it does to its victims from the time they are born," said Gerry Ostrander, of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. "Awareness is critical to help find a cure. Without people behind us, we will never find a cure."
Both Rebecca and Diana lead their lives to the best of their ability. They are like all other children on the outside. Rebecca has her happy smile that brings life to a room. Diana is like all other teenagers with her new prom dress in hand and still needs a date for her senior prom. On the outside, there is no difference in them as anyone else, but on the inside Cystic Fibrosis is taking a terrible toll on their bodies.
"It's not just an individual disease, it is a family disease. The entire family has to participate in the care of them. Everyone has to be involved. It takes a lot of time and care from all of us," said Lynn Smith, Diana's mother. "Diana's brother, John, and sister, Sarah have been a big part in the care of Diana. They have been so good about helping. There were times when I would have thought that the incredible attention that Diana needs would have been a burden on John and Sarah, but they have been great through the whole ordeal."
"I would agree that it is a family disease. Rebecca's sisters, Elisabeth and Alycia have been wonderful through this, too," Patrice Billiel, Rebecca's mother said. "We all have to pitch in."
"Not only is it a family disease, but it also affects friends and society as well. We have never kept it from Diana's friends. Diana's friends have been terrific in helping Diana with some of her care. They have been a great help," said Lynn.
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects 30,000 people in the United States. It causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus, due to the faulty transport of sodium and chloride (salt) within cells lining organs such as the lungs and pancreas, to their outer surfaces. The thick CF mucus also obstructs the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and digest food. CF has a variety of symptoms. The most common are: very salty-tasting skin; persistent coughing, wheezing or pneumonia; excessive appetite but poor weight gain; and bulky stools. The treatment depends upon the stage of the disease and which organs are involved. One means of treatment, chest physical therapy, requires vigorous percussion (by using cupped hands) on the back and chest to dislodge the thick mucus from the lungs. Antibiotics are also used to treat lung infections and are administered intravenously, via pills, and/or medicated vapors which are inhaled to open up clogged airways. When CF affects the digestive system, the body does not absorb enough nutrients. Therefore, people with CF may need to eat an enriched diet and take both replacement vitamins and enzymes.
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