Fourteen years ago I held Lexi, my fourteen-year-old sister in my arms as she took her final breath and lost her battle for life to Cystic Fibrosis. I was also born with CF, a devastating genetic disease that affects tens of thousands of children and young adults in the United States.

When I was born in 1979 little was known about Cystic Fibrosis. It took doctors fourteen months to diagnose me and just two months later my mom gave birth to Lexi who was diagnosed with CF the week she was born. Our shared disease bonded us in a way nothing else could. We felt blessed to have each other and we were best friends -- absolutely inseparable. The hardest test of my life was losing Lexi to CF. Over the past fourteen years, however, I've realized I didn't lose her. I will be forever connected to Lexi and have felt her presence through every trial and triumph in my life. She remains with me and her legacy gives me the strength to keep FIGHTING!

Although we continue to lose precious lives every day, we are determined and filled with HOPE! 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.

When I was born, the doctors told my mom I would be lucky to live to the age of ten. Because of innovative treatments that have been developed in my lifetime, I will turn 30 this year and am a wife and mother who LOVES LIFE in spite of the daily challenges of living with CF. All I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother and when I look at my son I am determined to keep fighting so I can watch him grow and participate in his life.

I start and end each day with a prayer that the scientists and doctors will quickly make CF stand for "Cure Found" so that I can be there for Harrison and so my precious 7-year-old nephew Ben and 5-year-old niece Lauren who were also born with CF won’t remember what it was like to struggle to breathe. They are angels in my life and when I see them, I am filled with hope that this disease will be a thing of the past!

After 30 years of asking for help in this cause, I am truly touched and humbled by the generosity of so many people who selflessly give their time, energy and dollars to prolong and save the lives of all who are fighting Cystic Fibrosis. Making a donation is easy and secure. Just click the "Click to Donate" button on this page. Any amount you can donate is greatly appreciated!

Thank you for supporting the mission of the CF Foundation and GREAT STRIDES! If you feel inclined, please forward this message on to anyone and everyone you feel might want to help. Your support means the world to me.

Blessings and Love, Sharlie Kaltenbach

To learn more about CF and the CF Foundation, visit www.cff.org.