Stepping back in time, that’s what it feels like to see what these Egyptian doctors have to work with in regard to medications. They have 4 vests for all 600 individuals with CF. In the U.S. usually each person with CF has a vest in their home. There are no CF modulators here (no Trikafta), it’s a dream for them right now. But these doctors are incredible, working to save the lives of these young children with this viscious disease. They don’t have the basics like vitamins, most of the patients suffer from malnutrition. When you watch the video you can see the transcript below if you need it. I love all these incredible people. They are hero’s. They are CF warriors. They are my people. xo

Dr. Sally Raafat Ishak “In Egypt now things are a little bit better than they were before, the creon is now on the label by the Ministry of Health, but the amount is still not sufficient to cover the needs of each patient daily. The hypertonic saline is now available, but we have the 7 percent instead of three percent, which is now available in the market. We still give the patient, the drug, but no added vitamins are still not available. And definitely the modulators are still far away from Egypt. We hope that they will be available in the near future to all of our patients.” Dr. Osama Taha Amir, Professor of pediatric pulmonology Zaga Zig University “ Our patient life expectancy is very short, young age. What, looking at the patient in Europe and America that live, almost normal life, they get to forty, they are very healthy. We hope that our children get this chance. We need them to get the modulator, we need them to get pulmozyme, to get every medication available to them. We need them to get the vest for every patient, not one vest for all our patients, no, we need vests for every patient. To get the best life. To live normal life.” Dr. Dina Tawfeek Sarhan, Assistant professor of pediatric pulmonology, Zaga Zig University, “The vest you donated will help our patients a lot. We are excited to start to use it on one patient and send you a video. I think we will be delight and our patients and you also. As the nutrition part, we don’t know what to do, we have the basics. Laura Bonnell asks: “From the United States to here, you’re at such a different stage, right? Dr. Mahitab Morsy Hussein, “Yes, yes, we are way behind. We are looking for to serving our patients in a better way. We are starting here our center of Excellence. The sweat machine is here. One year ago, we have used it. We have diagnosed a lot of patients, and we are aiming for more care, more better care. I know this is way behind, like in the U.S. But we are aiming better for our patients, and they deserve it.

You’ll meet CF Dad Mohamed in this video. He is one of the many shining lights of the parents there. You’ll also hear from Drs. Maggie Naguib and Eman Fouda. Both doctors continue to bring hope to the CF individuals they treat, and their families.

Today I met with doctors and some CF parents as part of my visit to Egypt. I went with University of Michigan pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Samya Nasr and Dietician Stacey Fogerty-Brown. This is the first time I met new CF Mom Izraa Lotfy whose 7 month old son Ali (he was recently diagnosed with CF). I am sharing our raw and personal conversation. Her son’s new diagnosis took me right back to Molly’s diagnosis day, and it knocked the wind out of me, unexpectedly, and I cried and cried with her. Interpreting for us was the wonderful and amazing Dr. Eman Fouda whom I adore (she did a podcast with me a year ago, great to meet her in person). The Egyptian doctors are doing wonderful work with the resources they have. I am proud to know them, and grateful to meet these doctors (all women) in person. I was also glad to finally meet Anas Mansour in person (he did a podcast with me a year ago), his twin boys (who have CF,) and his beautiful pharmacist wife, Iam aml. We have the same fears, worries, sense of community and desire to save our children’s lives. It filled my soul to talk with them both. The video is in their own words. Parents, no matter the Country should be able to get their children the meds needed to save their lives.

I’m Laura Bonnell and I am in Egypt to deliver my daughters pediatric vests to the Egyptian CF doctors here. Check out the video.

Laura Bonnell is in Egypt with Stacey, U of M nutritionist. The pair met Dr. Nasr in Cairo to delivers vests donated by Bonnell’s daughters. Watch the video for more details.