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Local family hopes to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis

LAWTON, Okla. – Over 30,000 people are affected by it and most do not make to their 35^th birthday.  Cystic Fibrosis is a disease that usually develops in young children, just as it did in 5-year-old Tayah Kaudle-Kaule of Indiahoma.

That is why her mother, Jade Tanner, is walking in tomorrow's annual "Great Strides Walk" in Lawton, side by side with her daughter.

There is no cure for cystic fibrosis.  It is a disease Tayah will have to live with for the rest of her life.  CF causes thick, sticky mucus to form in the lungs, pancreas and other organs.  It blocks the airways and clogs the digestive system.  So naturally, Tayah's mother is doing everything possible to help her get through this.  Tayah was only two weeks old when her mother got the dreaded news.

"They did the newborn screening test, the test said positive," said Tanner.

After a few more tests later and it was clear, Tayah had CF, a potentially fatal disease.  Even so, you could not tell by looking at her.  Tayah is now 5 years old.  She looks and even acts like any normal, active 5-year-old child.

"When she's sick, you can't tell.   She is like this all the time, even when she's in the hospital.  They put her in for 2 weeks at a time.  She's like that.   You can't tell at all," said Tanner.

But her looks belie what she lives with every day, medication and regular breathing treatments all necessary to live, but expensive.

"They're crazy expensive.  She does four breathing treatments and plus P.T. therapy which is chest therapy for her lungs, and that machine alone was $16,000."

Tayah is one of thousands of children in the country with CF.  That is why Tanner wants to raise awareness about the disease.

"She knows she's sick and she knows she has CF and she doesn't know what it is or what it means, or what it will do.  She does good with it because she'll tell people about it.  She'll tell she's sick, but I tell her she's special for it."

There is no cure for CF, but one might be right around the corner.  Tayah will be at tomorrow's walk.  Tanner says Tayah is so excited she has even made a countdown for "Days until the Walk".

The walk will be Sat. at 10 a.m. at the McMahon Softball Complex at 38^th and Lee Blvd.  It is about an hour long and everyone is welcome to participate.