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This post was sponsored by Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis Services as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received compensation as a thank you for my post.
May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month! What do you know about CF?
About Cystic Fibrosis:
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF) affects approximately 30,000 adults and children in the U.S.1 Despite aggressive treatment plans and daily challenges, these CF Champions choose to look on the bright side, no matter what comes their way.
- CF primarily affects the respiratory and digestive systems. (1)
- Due to their increased risk of infection and cross-contamination, many patients are isolated from others (2) Patients frequently report high levels of depression and anxiety, which can greatly impact disease severity and outcomes, actively following medication regimens and understanding of CF. (1)
Did you know that Walgreens has a services for CF patients? I didn’t. How amazing is that for families that deal with CF every day. I’m sure this makes their lives much easier.
About Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis Services:
Cystic Fibrosis Services Inc. is a Walgreens Alliance Pharmacy that provides specialized care to people living with CF. At Walgreens, we understand every journey is different and every moment is important, which is why we go beyond simply providing medication to offer a compassionate, holistic approach to care. Services include:
- Pharmacists with specialized knowledge and training in CF
- A wide range of CF medications and products, including hard to find medications
- The ease of ordering a refill online 24/7
- The ability to track your prescription order, view your account balance and even pay online 24/7
- A dedicated team that advocates on your behalf to access the CF medications you need
As a healthcare worker for over 25 years, I have seen many patients with Cystic Fibrosis. When I worked at the Children’s Hospital in Tennessee, I really understood what CF is and how it affects life of the patient and the family.
There was one little patient (we will call Kate for this story) that I got attached to- she came in a few times a week for Chest X-rays. Due to CF, she was more prone to getting Upper Respiratory infections and pneumonia. I watched week after week as she was so brave and smiled so big. Nothing could get her down. Even when she came in wearing a mask, I could see the smile in her eyes. I asked her parents how she could be so happy and brave all the time. They told me the secret- make everything fun. Since she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at 9 weeks old, she has never known any other way of living. Her mom told me that when it was time for her treatments (like the Airway Clearance Techniques) they always sang a silly song in time to the thumps on her little back. When it was time for breathing treatments, the nebulizer became Bella the Butterfly and she gave butterfly kisses with the medications. Liquid medications were given in little tea cups, when she was old enough. Those special tea parties are happy memories for any little girl. This little girl was getting important medications to keep her body healthy. Her parents stressed the importance of adhering to all the treatments and medications the doctors recommended. They were told it would improve her quality of life and it surely did. Her mom mentioned a friend of their’s that DIDN’T do her medications regularly. While Kate looked and acted like a normal 7 year old, her friend looked sick and missed school and never smiled.
Each part of her treatment was fun- even having an X-ray was fun. Of course, I worked at a Children’s Hospital where the rooms all had amazing themes and murals and creatures of all kinds. Even the masks had cartoon characters on them. I always looked for my favorite patient so I could get a big smile and be thankful for loving parents that gave her a reason to smile.
The only thing that would have made Kate’s life easier would have been Walgreens CF program. Kate’s family could have been Navigating The Journey Together with their doctor, Walgreens and other CF ambassadors.
If YOU know someone with CF, try to be a supportive friend or relative. If it’s friend, spend extra time helping her out with chores or shopping. If it’s a little one, give the mom or dad a break by babysitting. Always encourage them to stick to the regimen their doctor recommended. You will be helping them live a healthier life. Keeping their bodies healthy will decrease the infections and other things that many CF patients get.
Most of all, smile and be positive. Be a Kate- brave and happy through anything!
Sources:
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Patient registry annual data report 2013. https://www.cff.org/2013_CFF_Patient_Registry_Annual_Data_Report.pdf. Published October, 2013. Accessed November 3, 2015.
- Wohletz MC. Cystic fibrosis: optimizing outcomes via team-based care. Pharmacy Practice News. www.pharmacypracticenews.com/SE2014. Published November 2014. Accessed October 23, 2015.