These days Ojaio spends most of her time playing with barbies, or dressing up as a princess. She loves playing with her dog, Oka, in the backyard and riding her bike without training wheels. She dreams about her next trip to Disneyland and can't wait to catch her first bass fish with her dad. But what Ojaio wants more than anything else, is for there to someday be a cure for cystic fibrosis.

While Ojaio is just as happy and healthy as any other five-year-old, she works very hard to maintain her health. Throughout the day Ojaio takes ten different medications multiple times. When she is healthy she does two forty-five minute breathing treatments each day, and when she is sick, this doubles. When things are going well, she sees the CF team every 2-3 months. Ojaio has five doctors, a dietitian, a nurse case manager, two respiratory therapists, a physical therapist, and a social worker. It's a lot of work, and Ojaio does all of this with diligence and courage.

For Justin and I, being Ojaio's parents means more than providing shelter, ensuring proper growth and love. It also means investing in new therapies, and a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. I believe we will find a cure in Ojaio's lifetime, but only money will make that possible. Drug companies and the government will not invest in CF, because it is not profitable -- only 30,000 Americans suffer from this disease. It is up to us to give our kids a long life.

Cystic Fibrosis is the number one genetic killer of Children in the US. While the median age of survival is 37, as hard as we try, sometimes it doesn't matter. CF does not discriminate. More than 60% of kids with CF won't make it to adulthood. My cousin lost her precious son Liam to CF as an infant.

Justin, Ojaio and I will be walking in the Great Strides walk at Heartwell Park in Long Beach on June 11th. We will walk to remember Liam and to honor his legacy, and in memory of all others who lost their lives because of CF. And of course, for Ojaio's future. Please help us meet our fundraising goal!

Times are tough, but please give what you can. Five bucks will bring us that much closer to a cure. Any amount is appreciated!

Words cannot express our gratitude. Thank you so much,

Holly, Justin and Ojaio