Dear Family and Friends,
Can you believe another year has flown by? We are so thankful and blessed to have this young man in our lives. Most of you know that our son Payton lives with Cystic Fibrosis (diagnosed Aug 2003) and Type 1 Diabetes (diagnosed Apr 2012). Payton continues to amaze us through his determination to beat both of these diseases. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States. We are very thankfully that the CF Foundation is allowing Payton and others with CF to live longer through their research. However, we continue to lose precious lives to CF every day. That’s why your help is needed now more than ever to ensure that a cure is found sooner – rather than later.
Each year, we write this letter to help raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in an effort to make CF stand for “Cure Found”. The GREAT STRIDES walk, one of the largest fundraisers for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, is scheduled for May 18, 2014. Our team is trying to raise $20,000 for this year’s event. With the help of so many family and friends, Payton’s Players raised $14,804 last year! We would like to ask for your help in meeting this goal so that it will assist in finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.
Payton has learned over the years how to manage both his CF & Diabetes as though he were an adult. He has really impressed us and his doctors with the knowledge and understanding needed at such a young age. We assist Payton each day with breathing treatments, supplemental feedings, vest therapy, insulin delivery and other medications; all of these help him live a stronger and healthier life. At home each day Payton has to take 25 or more pills, 4-6 breathing treatments, fed throughout the night in his G-Button, 6-10 blood sugar checks, and insulin delivery. All of these medications help to assist his digestion, increase his lung function, and treat bacteria and fungus growing in his lungs. Although his health is still fragile and a daily struggle, we are grateful for all the medical advances that are available to help him. Payton does remarkably well for an 11 year old, but this is still plenty to take in for someone his age and even more heartbreaking to watch. We have had to hospitalize Payton twice in the past year (October 2013 & March 2014). It is not uncommon for Payton to be hospitalized each year to treat his CF. As you can imagine, these lengthy hospital stays (usually 2 weeks) disrupt everyone’s lives. At times these hospital visits are planned (tune-ups), while other times they are not. Payton doesn’t really enjoy having to go to the hospital (who does), but he is getting better and the nurses have grown very fond of him. Payton understands why he is in the hospital and we couldn’t ask for a better team of doctors, nurses and staff to care for him.
Even though Payton fights CF and Diabetes daily, most of the time you wouldn’t even know he had either. He is very active all day long and loves playing sports. Payton plays Select Baseball for the Texas Crush and is having a great time! He really loves baseball and we give him every opportunity to play and watch it that we can. He constantly reminds us why he loves baseball so much “It’s my release from all my diseases. I feel free and don’t have to think about any of it”. He is a huge Texas Rangers fan and we make as many games as possible each year. We missed out on Spring Training this year (first
time in 10 years), but that didn’t stop Payton from watch highlights on MLB. We have so many stories about Payton and his fight against CF and Diabetes. The one story that we like to share is about Payton’s sister Savanna, who turns 8 this month. Savanna really loves her brother, looks up to him and would do anything in the world for him. Her birthday party is coming up, and just like last year she has requested that in lieu of gifts, everyone makes a donation for her brother to the CF Foundation. There are no words for her selfless act, which shows the true love she has for her brother and best friend! She’s always looking out for her big brother and learning all about his diseases.
We would also like you to join our team (Payton’s Players) and walk to show your support. Payton’s Players continues to grow, we had over 100 walkers join the team last year! We are always overwhelmed by the support shown for Payton’s Players and hope the team grows again in 2014! If you are interested in joining our team to walk or making a donation, just visit my GREAT STRIDES Home Page by clicking the link below:
The CF Foundation has consistently been recognized as one of the top voluntary health organizations in the country at efficiently using its money raised to invest in research and medical programs. By investing in the CFF you are helping to fund the landmark research that will, one day, make a tremendous difference in the lives of those with the disease.
Trying to make CF stand for “Cure Found,” Thank you for your help and support!
~*The Stevens Story*~ 