CF Recipe Contest

I am posting this a little late for the June contest, recipes are due by June 21, but this a great time to start planning for submissions to the winter and spring contests.

Abbott today announced the launch of four themed recipe contests as a part of the CFChef program, an online nutrition resource developed to address the specific nutritional needs of people living with cystic fibrosis (CF).


The CFChef program will host “Cookout” and “Back-to-School” recipe contests through June 21, 2012 as well as the “Winter Holiday” and “Spring Holiday 2013” recipe contests later in the year. Individuals touched by CF are invited to submit original recipes for a CF diet or CF adaptations of traditional meals online at www.Chef4CF.com. 


 "Providing nutritionally balanced, CF-friendly recipe options through the CFChef program helps patients learn more about the importance of nutrition," said Jim Hynd, divisional vice president, Cardiovascular Care, Metabolics and GI Care.


 "For more than 20 years, Abbott has been committed to supporting the unique needs of CF patients by providing programs like CFChef that help to inform the patient, their family and friends." Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States. More than 70 percent of people with CF are diagnosed by age two. In patients with CF, a thick, sticky mucus is produced in certain organs throughout the body, most commonly the lungs and digestive system, including the pancreas. Many people living with CF are unable to properly digest food because of the thick mucus in the digestive system. Additionally, the pancreas does not produce enough digestive pancreatic enzymes in these patients, causing malabsorption of the calories and nutrients (vitamins and minerals) in food. To achieve proper nutrition, individuals with CF need to consume more calories than a person without the disease. 


 As a part of this year’s initiative, the CFChef website has been updated to provide instructions on how to manage energy imbalances through diet, as well as meal preparation tips to help meet the nutritional requirements of both CF and non-CF family members. In addition, the program now includes an online survey, which will be available to the CF community at www.Chef4CF.com until July 20, 2012. This survey will allow those touched by CF to provide valuable input regarding the overall program and nutrition guide content for future website updates and additions. 


 "With its growing recipe database and the introduction of an interactive survey, the CFChef website continues to be an increasingly useful tool for the CF community," said Suzanne Michel, a registered dietitian at a leading children's CF center in Philadelphia." Chef4CF.com now provides a comprehensive shopping list, useful cooking tips, and shows CF patients and their families it’s possible to eat healthy and cook successfully, even with complex dietary requirements and a busy schedule." 


 CFChef is an Abbott-sponsored online nutrition resource developed to help people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their families better understand the unique nutritional needs of people living with the disease. In addition to serving as an educational resource, CFChef is a place where families, friends and caregivers of people with CF can share recipes and get updated nutrition tips and guidance. Visit CFChef at www.Chef4CF.com. 

Jason Dunn's Visit

I just realized I never posted the pictures from Jason's awesome visit!  Here they finally are:

Warming up for Friday night's show at Teen Club, Oasis

I am sure you can't tell that Hannah was happy!

At the Show!  The kids had a BLAST!

Saturday Brunch with Jason and my Girl's Group

Jason with our sweet dog Cracker

We had so much fun with Jason and his brother Jake on Friday night, that we stayed up until 4:00 a.m.

Needless to say, we were all pretty tired by Saturday afternoon!

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of Sat.'s show because I was video taping it, but here are the girls with Jason after!

Sunday morning Jason helped Hannah with a piano part on one of his songs.  She was in her GLORY!

We enjoyed Jason's visit so much, we will be bringing him back this October!

Wonderful Visit with My Mom!

We had the opportunity to have my mom here for two weeks.  It is always such a joy to have her here, especially now that she and I can work together around the house and not have me sick and watching.

Mom was especially looking forward to seeing Hannah dance at a Feis (Irish Dance Competition), so she accompanied Hannah and I to Buffalo.  Here are some pics taken that day!

Hannah with one of her best dance friends, Katie!

Mom & Hannah

Three Generations

Family is truly a blessing!

EXPERRT Act Passed

You did it! Both the House of Representatives and Senate have passed legislation that includes the Expanding and Promoting Expertise in Review of Rare Treatments (EXPERRT) Act.

Now, let’s say thanks! Thank your members of Congress for supporting the EXPERRT Act. The EXPERRT Act will make it easier for the FDA to access outside expertise needed to understand the science behind new drugs intended to treat CF and other rare diseases. It passed because advocates like you reached out to your elected officials to show how important the EXPERRT Act is for people with CF.

 Thank you again for your help and determination! Together, we are making a difference for all people with CF.

 Sincerely, Mary Dwight

Vice President for Government Affairs

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (800) FIGHT CF publicpolicy@cff.org