I am honored to be recognized by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as one of this year's outstanding professionals in our community. As part of this honor, I have committed to raising funds to help the Foundation advance its mission: to cure cystic fibrosis (CF) and ensure every person with CF has the opportunity to live a long, healthy, and fulfilling life. My greatest hope is to one day see "CF" stand for CURE FOUND.

Nearly 40,000 people in the United States are living with cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Sixty years ago, most children with CF did not live long enough to attend elementary school. Today, thanks to groundbreaking research funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and advances in specialized care, the median predicted survival age has surpassed 50 years.

As a nurse practitioner caring for children with cystic fibrosis for the past 13 years, I have had the privilege of witnessing extraordinary progress in CF care. My job has many difficult moments, from helping families navigate a new diagnosis to walking alongside them through hospitalizations, setbacks, and the uncertainty that can come with a lifelong disease. Yet I have more hope today than ever before. Because of the research supported by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, I fully expect many of the children I care for to grow into adults who live long, productive, and fulfilling lives.

But our work is not finished. Not every person with cystic fibrosis benefits from the life-changing therapies available today, and some continue to face significant health challenges despite everything modern medicine has achieved. Until there is a cure for every person with CF, we cannot leave anyone behind.

You can support this mission by making a direct donation, purchasing a ticket or an entire table for our annual Rocks & Roses fundraising event, or becoming an event sponsor. Every contribution helps fund groundbreaking research, the development of new therapies, and the hope of a future where no one has to live with cystic fibrosis.

By supporting this mission, you have the opportunity to help end this disease in our lifetime. Together, we can help make "CF" stand for CURE FOUND.
More information about Rocks and Roses can be found here: https://finest.cff.org/RocksnRosesKY/Static/event-info