Cycle For Awareness & A Cure For Cystic Fibrosis!!

Last year my mother's cousin Joey, who was a favorite uncle to my siblings and I, passed away. (Summer, 2011) We looked up to him so much, he was so full of life, inspirational, and such a good and sweet person. He is surely loved and missed!

Joey with my Grandmother,  July, 2009

He was born with cystic fibrosis and sadly it took his life. In short it's called CF. CF is a disease in the lungs. The lungs get filled with thick fluids and this disease is life-threatening. You can read more about CF here. 

Lung transplants for CF patients may give the possibility of longer life. Joey needed a double lung transplant and after so many years of waiting for one, and close call donor lungs, he finally got the one call he needed and went under surgery for the transplant in Spring, 2011. 

Joey smiling and feeling good after his lung transplant

The transplant was a success and everyone close to Joey cried happy tears! I visited him about a week after the transplant with my in-laws, and he was recovering so fast! He would post about how great he felt on Facebook. A few months after the successful transplant he started to get sick, and he did not make it.

We were all devastated.  

When I was child I would hear the news about Joey being in and out of the hospital. My twin sister, Victoria, and I always wanted to find some way to help Joey stay out of the hospital and to help find a cure for CF. My uncle Joey was a a strong fighter of this disease, and we want to continue the fight for him. 

Where I live, there is a Great Strides: Taking Steps To Cure Cystic Fibrosis done annually, and this year I missed it. I signed up to do it next year. If you want to do this in your area here is the link.

My sister and her husband found another way to help raise awareness and help find a cure for CF in this area. It was Cycle For Life and they were able to participate in this year's event. 

My sister and her husband getting ready to ride for CF! August, 2012 

Both my sister and her husband cycled 20 miles! Wow, congrats to the both of you! We were proud of ya!  Next year my husband and I plan to join them.

This is her page: Victoria's CF Fundraising page, and you can find her husband's page here: Jesus's CF Fundraising Page.  

Anyone can still click on their links and donate to help them reach over their fundraising goal! I am really glad I was able to support them this year and can't wait to join next year! 

In loving memory of Joey Campos!