Summer 2000 ~ Newsletter
How To Tell When Your Child Is Sick
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From The Editor
by Brett Vebber
One of the most frustrating issues about having CF is knowing when your child is sick. It is important because one can delay permanent scarring and even prevent hospitalizations by detecting early signs of infection.
This is one of the hardest jobs because many person's with CF are masters at disguising the sickness. The editor knows because is a guilty party as well. The one thing a person with a supposedly "special" condition wants most is to be as normal as possible and be like everybody else. My parents drilled this into my head so that I would not feel sorry for myself. The hard part comes when the truth becomes evident that there is something unique in having CF.
Through the years of trying to mask my illness, I am now learning the secret of being content, whether sick or healthy, frustrated or joyful, depressed or motivated; I have learned to see that CF is a part of me that makes me who I am and I try to not let the symptoms control me. I am not responsible for getting CF, but I am responsible for taking care of myself and my body now. Getting embarrassed or living in denial does nothing but shift the responsibility.
This is a tough subject, and one which needs to be discussed because, though one does everything possible to stay healthy, sickness is still going to occur. Hopefully early detection will help prevent extra damage to the lungs.
The next subject for the Fall issue will be "School". The writer's intent is to help parents prepare for school so that the child will not only be ready for the next school year, but be able to let the teacher and other students understand Cystic Fibrosis. We would love to use your questions and comments in the next newsletter so please mail them to:
- Heart 2 Heart
- Children's Hospital
- ACC, Suite 620
- 1600 7th Avenue South
- Birmingham, AL 35233
- C/O Brett Vebber
or e-mail me at: BVebber@peds.uab.edu