Who's camden?

Camden is the son of Kirk and Chelsey Mona and the only grandchild of Dave and Linda Mona and Robert and Gail Carter. He was born in November of 2007 and just a few days later he was diagnosed through newborn screening with Cystic Fibrosis, a fatal disease that affects some 30,000 people across the United States. As recently as 20 years ago the average Cystic Fibrosis patient lived to the age of 12. Today the average life expectancy is 37. Under promising research being conducted today, it is very possible to visualize a day when Cystic Fibrosis can be treated, allowing its victims to lead “normal” lives.

Fortunately, Camden, who is now 4, has been extremely healthy to date, and unlike many other CF kids has not yet had to be hospitalized. Cystic Fibrosis does not define Camden but it does shape his day to day life. He starts the day with almost an hour of nebulized drugs and wears a percussive vest to help break up thick mucus in his lungs. Because CF also blocks digestive enzymes from leaving his pancreas, Cam takes enzyme pills with every meal. When he comes home at the end of the day he again goes though the same nebulized drug treatment and percussive therapy he does in the morning.

It is easy to look at these things as a burden but each and every drug and therapy he uses is a breakthrough that helps him live a normal healthy life. These drugs and treatments were developed because of funding from people like yourself. One of the treatments he is on right now is an experimental study drug sponsored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

One of Camden’s favorite activities is to try to play the guitar and mandolin so it seems fitting that we use music to help find a cure. And we will. We are closer than ever to a cure for Cystic Fibrosis and with your help Camden and thousands of other kids with CF will grow up to live long healthy lives.