Training doctors and families about CF. Dr. Samya Nasr spearheads the effort to get people in Egypt diagnosed and on correct medications and doing physical therapy.
Today was another teaching moment at Ainshams University in Cairo. Dietician Stacey Fogerty-Brown explained the importance of proper nutrition to doctors at Ainshams University and Cairo University. The fans were blowing and the having slatted blinds were slapping...
Changing the face of CF in Egypt. Laura Bonnell travels there to see the work of Dr. Samya Nasr.
I arrived in Egypt Friday morning at 2:00 am. Our first day was resting and some sight seeing as Friday is considered a weekend (Egypts weekend is Friday and Saturday). It is very warm here, 90 or hotter and feels like 100. It's very dry and there are palm trees...
Brett Bowman and Mom Kim talk transplant, blindness and legacy
My dear friend Kimberly Bowman, (and friend to so many in the CF community), tells her story with her son Brett Bowman in our Living with cystic fibrosis podcast out today. It will rip your heart out, inspire you and make you laugh. Kim's been through hell and back...
Delta Dental Foundation awards The Bonnell Foundation with dental care grants
The Bonnell Foundation (BF) is grateful to the Delta Dental Foundation for awarding us with grants that allowed us to help two CF patients with much needed dental care. The BF became more aware of the need for dental work in CF patients as we began getting more and...
Prescription Drug Affordability Boards Do More Harm Than Good
Shortly after my son was born, we learned he has cystic fibrosis – a deadly lung disease that can drastically shorten a person’s lifespan. It was a devastating blow as a mother. And throughout his life, I’ve remained his cheerleader, confidant, health proxy and...
CF in Egypt: does it exist there? Doctors there said “no” until a University of Michigan doctor proved them wrong.
I remember when Molly was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Joe and I had visions of at least 4 kids, but the family dream was shattered by cystic fibrosis, with new dreams emerging. We didn’t know how lucky we were then to have our daughter born in the United States...
Elizabeth W. – “Don’t stop living your life when crisis hits.”
My name is Elizabeth W. I’m an 18-year-old girl living with CF. I was diagnosed with CF shortly after I was born. For those who are unaware, Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary disease that affects all systems of the body, but especially the lungs and the pancreas....
Night of Hope Celebration
I can't stop thinking about our Night of Hope event! I am already looking forward to next year. I am already trying to figure out how to top this years Gala. It was perfect. The energy in the room was LOVE, JOY, HAPPINESS, GENEROSITY, GRATEFULNESS, TRUTH AND DID I SAY...
Celebrate!!
Life is even better when your daughter is found not to be sick enough to be admitted!!! Fever, after fever, after fever had us concerned. Temps from 102 to 103.5, coughing, motrin, more motrin. We’re certain she will be admitted. We head to the hospital today, bags...
8th Grade Graduation
8th grade graduation was a perfect day. Friends and family, what more could we ask for? Emily is moving on to the High School and we couldn’t be happier. We love milestones. We have made it this far, we’re excited for the future. It’s bright. New medications coming...
Florida, Fun & Treatments
The girls had fun visiting family in Florida. Turns out too the ocean salt is good for cystic fibrosis. They are on a drug that does the same thing as sea salt, hypertonic saline solution, they could skip it while in Florida. The ocean did all the work!
Life Is Good…
Playing in the snow during the last snow day. Today the girls are on winter break, but we got a ton of snow that shut down other schools. Molly is skiiing Crested Butte in Colorado! And Emily is fully enjoying life as an only child!! Living every day.
Living Life On A Snow Day With A Picc Line
Emily (far right) hangs out with her sister (green scarf). Emily can’t wait to get her picc line out but has had a wonderful snow day, full of fun outside! She jumped off the swing set, making sure to land on the arm with out the picc line. She built an igloo and...
Life Is Good…
Emily is recovering nicely from pneumonia. She has her 8th picc line in. She is a rock star! An amazing girl. So strong. So behind in homework after missing two weeks of school! There is so much going on in the world of CF. The March on Hill is in March. We...
Girls Are Doing Great
We know not everyone is having a healthy holiday, so we are very thankful the girls are healthy. Usually by now Emily has been hospitalized, but besides a cold, no bad health news to report! We’re wishing everyone a Happy New year.