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I ROSE UP to honor Mimi & Grampy
KC White
Dear Family and Friends,
This October 24th, we celebrate the fifth year of Rose Up!
This year, I am dedicating my Rose Up to my grandparents, Jim and Connie Brown—whom we lovingly called Grampy and Mimi. My grandmother, Mimi, passed away peacefully in September at the age of 93, surrounded by her family.
Mimi and Grampy were dedicated supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. After my CF diagnosis in the early ’80s, they started an event in Cleveland called the Cystic Fibrosis Sports Challenge, where corporate teams competed in events like tug-of-war, relay races, obstacle courses, long jump, and basketball free throws. At its peak, 100 teams participated, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the CF Foundation over more than two decades. The Sports Challenge was possible because of Mimi’s determination and the support of many of you. I loved the Sports Challenge. It was always my favorite day of the year.
I know both Mimi and Grampy would be so proud of the progress we have made in CF research. The CFF recently announced that babies born with CF today have a median life expectancy of 61 years When I was diagnosed the life expectancy was only 15. We have come a long way! While that’s incredible progress, there’s still much work to be done. Some people with CF don’t benefit from the newest drug, Trikafta, and many still face difficult lung infections and other complications beyond the lungs.
In May, I completed a yearlong, grueling treatment for a multi-drug-resistant bacteria called nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Over the year of treatment, I took 11 different antibiotics, including 110 days of IV antibiotics, for many months I was on four antibiotics at a time. I’m incredibly grateful to say that it seems to have worked—my lung function is stable, and I’m no longer culturing NTM. But my journey is a reminder of how much we still need to do, and why Rose Up is so important.
This year, Mac, Juice, and I—along with my Cleveland cousins—will honor Mimi and Grampy by holding our own mini Sports Challenge. We’d love for you to join us from wherever you are—whether you want to try one of the classic Sports Challenge events or create your own (quilting, drawing, running, hiking, skiing, walking your dog—you name it!). I’d love to see pictures of your event!
You can also participate by donating to my Rose Up page:
Thank you so much for your continued support and encouragement. I’m deeply grateful. Together, we can get closer to Mimi and Grampy’s dream—a cure for CF for their granddaughter and everyone living with Cystic Fibrosis.
With love, KC
This October 24th, we celebrate the fifth year of Rose Up!
This year, I am dedicating my Rose Up to my grandparents, Jim and Connie Brown—whom we lovingly called Grampy and Mimi. My grandmother, Mimi, passed away peacefully in September at the age of 93, surrounded by her family.
Mimi and Grampy were dedicated supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. After my CF diagnosis in the early ’80s, they started an event in Cleveland called the Cystic Fibrosis Sports Challenge, where corporate teams competed in events like tug-of-war, relay races, obstacle courses, long jump, and basketball free throws. At its peak, 100 teams participated, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the CF Foundation over more than two decades. The Sports Challenge was possible because of Mimi’s determination and the support of many of you. I loved the Sports Challenge. It was always my favorite day of the year.
I know both Mimi and Grampy would be so proud of the progress we have made in CF research. The CFF recently announced that babies born with CF today have a median life expectancy of 61 years When I was diagnosed the life expectancy was only 15. We have come a long way! While that’s incredible progress, there’s still much work to be done. Some people with CF don’t benefit from the newest drug, Trikafta, and many still face difficult lung infections and other complications beyond the lungs.
In May, I completed a yearlong, grueling treatment for a multi-drug-resistant bacteria called nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Over the year of treatment, I took 11 different antibiotics, including 110 days of IV antibiotics, for many months I was on four antibiotics at a time. I’m incredibly grateful to say that it seems to have worked—my lung function is stable, and I’m no longer culturing NTM. But my journey is a reminder of how much we still need to do, and why Rose Up is so important.
This year, Mac, Juice, and I—along with my Cleveland cousins—will honor Mimi and Grampy by holding our own mini Sports Challenge. We’d love for you to join us from wherever you are—whether you want to try one of the classic Sports Challenge events or create your own (quilting, drawing, running, hiking, skiing, walking your dog—you name it!). I’d love to see pictures of your event!
You can also participate by donating to my Rose Up page:
Thank you so much for your continued support and encouragement. I’m deeply grateful. Together, we can get closer to Mimi and Grampy’s dream—a cure for CF for their granddaughter and everyone living with Cystic Fibrosis.
With love, KC
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