Dear Friends, Family, and Business Associates:
As some of you may or may not know, it has been a little over 10 years since our youngest son Daniel was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. The disease causes abnormally thick mucus, which results in frequent life threatening respiratory infections and continued hospitalizations. The disease attacks the lungs scarring them each time with different bacteria that the body creates, and the scarring is permanent. There is no reversal of the effects.
Since Daniel’s diagnosis in 2001, we have seen big improvements in the treatments and medicines available to him and other CF patients. This translates to improvements in his health and an overall better quality of life. We have seen the life expectancy change from 32 to 35 and now to 37. This has been some of the best news we have heard. At the rate the medical research is going, there is strong hope that those affected with CF will be able to reach the ripe age of retirement some day. The only possible way to accomplish this is through the intensive medical research that is ongoing at the present time. We need your help now more than ever.
Although Daniel has an amazing way of adapting to difficult situations, his daily routine, which includes hours of aerosol treatments, chest physiotherapy, and taking many different medicines, does take a toll on him. As he gets older, he is realizing that his life is different from other children around him. He does complain sometimes about why he has to take time out to do his treatments, especially when we are out camping, or when he is outside playing with his friends. Although he may complain, he always does it and accepts it.
2011 has been a good year for Daniel compared to last year. There has not been a hospital visit this year, he is getting taller and gaining weight. His running career is in full swing. besides the Cross Country races that he runs for his school team, he has ran (4) additional 5K races and even placing 2nd in his age group in one of them with a time of 26:10. He is on the school flag football team and placed 11th overall in Dade County for the JV Cross country runners.
There are two medicines that are in their last phases of clinical trials and should be available to patients in the next few years. Daniel’s doctors want his lung function to be the best it can be so that when these medicines are made available, he can get the most out of them. These two particular medicines are the first of their kind that will actually be able to reverse some of the damage in his lungs. Although it isn’t a cure, we are getting closer.
Daniel has all the aspirations that all boys his age have, and we want to do everything we can to keep him as healthy as possible. For this reason, we continue to raise money every year to find a cure for Daniel and all other children and adults with CF. We strongly believe that with your continued support and most of all your prayers, CF will one day stand for CURE FOUND!
There are several ways you can help.
One way you can help is by joining us on March 24, 2012 in Miami Lakes for Running with Danny’s 5k. (active.com) Even if you’re not a runner you can make a donation online. Come and spend the morning with our family and get a chance to meet Daniel.
If you cannot attend the 5k, you can sponsor Daniel by sending him a donation of any amount. Please make your contribution payable to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and send it to Daniel Quesada at 7003 N waterway Drive Suite 218, Miami, Fl. 33155.
Feel free to forward this letter and package to anyone you know that would be willing to help.
The only way to continue the fight to find the cure is through awareness and medical research.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity,
Mike, Mari, Joanna, Michael and Daniel Quesada