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Hi, my
name is Sarah Yourman and I am 13 years old. I was diagnosed with Cystic
Fibrosis at 19 months and then diagnosed with Diabetes at 8 years old.
I do everything that cystic fibrosis patients do but I also test my blood sugar up to 6 times per day and have something that is attached to me 24 hours a day, a Mini-Med insulin pump that provides me the proper insulin for meals and during the day for my active schedule. One thing I am grateful for is, no more insulin shots!!! I also take growth hormone to make my lungs grow and get taller! I also have a younger brother with cystic fibrosis who is 9. I see the doctors at the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Columbia. All the doctors are really nice and they are always there to help me if I have any questions and help my parents understand what is going on and always look out for me, and my brother, too! We get help to better understand what the right foods and medications are for my special situation. All the nurses and support staff are there to help to make sure I have medicines if I am not feeling well or help when we have to make an appointment. Cystic Fibrosis can get serious if you let it. What I do is follow the routine that my parents and doctors made to make sure I get the best care possible now, so that when the cure comes --I will be in tip top shape! Exercise is part of my routine and is so important to staying well! I have been snow skiing since I was two and one half years old and involved with gymnastics, swimming, bicycle riding and running for years. During my gym class in school all year, I compete for the Presidential Physical Fitness award. We started in third grade and completed my fifth grade challenge with being the only girl in the class of 30- fifth grade girls to earn the award for all three years!!! Not bad for a kid with CF! I compete
during the winter for the Mt. Snow Freestyle Team in Vermont. I do acrobatic
routines (a cartwheel on skis is my best trick), aerials, where I fly off a
jump and do a trick, and moguls, my favorite, where I ski the BUMPs! I get a
relief from chest PT before lunch 'cause the bumps clear my lungs real well!
I had my best finish this year in the Mt. Snow event. I finished 1st in
my age group and 5th overall among 11-17 year olds on the east coast. I was
invited to the Eastern Championships and competed in the Terrain Park Air
event and finished fourth in my age group and 10th overall girls on the East
Coast. I got injured in the moguls and was not able to compete in the Aerial
competition. If you want to see me in action go to: http://www.talentedkids.com/usa/kidtalent.php?tkid=SY00112355
or head over to Boomer Esiason’s site at http://www.esiason.org/ Fair Lawn News.com My family keeps very busy by becoming involved in sports. Sports and exercise play a major role in building up your lungs. The lungs are an important muscle especially in CF patients - keep them strong. The stronger you work, the better they will feel. Playing soccer, bicycle riding, running, rollerblading and skateboarding are just a few ways to have fun exercising! There is a whole great world out there and a message to CF kids as well as their parents-make the most of it and enjoy yourself - by keeping yourself strong and doing things you like to do! You have to remember one thing though --- take all your meds, do your chest PT (no matter how much you hate it) and exercise - exercise - exercise!
Send e-mail to yourman@ix.netcom.com
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