In her own words, IT COULD HAPPEN

We are currently running an online fundraising calendar campaign to continue our mission on Fundraising Through The Lens in Memory of April Lynn Hacker.

We understand first hand the need to raise awareness and more importantly money for research and a ultimately a cure so we wanted to share something very special with you. Through the approval of April's parents we wanted to share with you her thoughts on Cystic Fibrosis. If you are not familiar with her story the following is a story written by April Hacker in 1997 when she was just 12. 

It Could Happen:

A Cure for Cystic Fibrosis

By: April Hacker

Cystic Fibrosis is the number one genetic disease that takes away the freedom of young people.

" Hi," I'm April Hacker and I have Cystic Fibrosis. I shall be referring Cystic Fibrosis to CF.

The doctors found out that I had CF when I was 8 months old. I had to take a sweat test. That's when the doctors measure the amount of salt in my sweat. After that they admitted me to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, they listed me as failure to survive. Then the doctors found out that I had CF.

I got put on steroids because I was weak and couldn't hold my bottle or even suck it. I was in the hospital for two months.

CF is a fatal genetic disease. It's most common in the United States today. It occurs in one of every 2,500 live births, 3,000 young children are effected with the CF gene. Over 1,300 new cases are diagnosed each year, usually by the age of three. Average life span is 29 years.

CF has a variety of symptoms. Some are very salty - tasting skin, persistent coughing, wheezing, very big appetite but poor weight gain, and foul- smelling stools.

CF kids have a lot of thick sticky mucus in the lungs and obstructs our pancreas. Since the mucus obstructs our pancreas, we can't produce the enzymes we need, so we take pills to help us get the right amount of vitamins and minerals. We also need an enriched diet and take replacement vitamins.

The CF foundation is quickly bringing closer to a cure. 

When I get a cold I get a very bad cough and cough up mucus that's in my throat. I use a Pulma- Aid and a Flutter. They help break up the mucus and open my bronchial tubes so I can breathe better. 

We have a program called "Lock Up" to help raise money to experiment with ways to cure CF. They have another program, but it's an exercise program. This program lasts a whole year and the CF kids that participate get paid for each session they do.

If scientists find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, I will be very happy. Although I have CF, I don't feel any different from any other normal kid. Other than I have to take pills before I eat, but that isn't much difference. Now, I have a very mild cause of CF, some CF kids have it very badly. I can run pretty fast for a long period of time because my lungs are not a bad as most CF kids. I'm proud of that too. 

I have a sister named Amanda. She had a brain tumor which cause seizures. She had a lot of seizures. Then she got operated on July of '95. Since then she's only had 3 seizures. None since January of '96.

With advanced medicine and surgical technology and a lot of prayers, Amanda will continue to go seizure free.

If it happened to my sister then it could happen for me. A cure for Cystic Fibrosis will be found soon enough.

I pray it could happen for us who have Cystic Fibrosis.

Hey, It Could Happen.

If you can't tell from this little story April was always thinking about others and never let her illness define her. April underwent a double lung transplants at Pittsburgh Presbyterian Hospital in October 2009 which gave her hope. 

April full of smiles at her New Lungs Party!

From April's Facebook "About" page: 

• New lungs received 17 October 2009! Thank you everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers, and LOVE that you sent my way!! Seriously couldn't do it without you!
  
  Most of you know me, I was the shy quiet girl in school. The one who has Cystic Fibrosis and Diabetes. Lately I've been sick a lot. Four times this past year(2008) that I had to be on IVs, so the last time I made the decision to get a power port implanted. It saves so many sticks! But life has treated me well, has blessed me with amazing friends and a wonderful family.

In January 2010, April underwent a 2nd double lung transplant after her doctors found a clot in her new lungs. April suffered several complications and passed away with family and friends by her side still waiting for a cure for CF -13 years after writing that story. She was just days away from her 25th birthday and had fought a courageous and selfless battle until the end.

April loved to make handmade paintings for presents for her family and friends. She painted and gave me and other family member a prayer box with an Angel Prayer Stone inside.

The Prayer said, 

GIVE YOUR WORRIES TO THE ANGELS

IT IS TIME TO HEAL YOUR HEART.

EVERY DAY'S A NEW BEGINNING

WHERE LOVE AND HOPE CAN START.

GIVE YOUR WORRIES TO THE ANGELS

RELEASE YOUR DOUBT AND FEAR.

TRUST IN GOD TO ALWAYS BE THERE

WITH ANGELS ALWAYS NEAR.

Grayson just a few days old with April's Prayer Angel 

This is why we Fund raise Through The Lens. To help tell continue to tell her story and find a cure. We believe in the power of photography & networking and are blessed to also get to connect and share stories of others waiting for their own cure.

 To learn more about the 12 amazing individual and non profits we are featuring in our first Clicks for a Cause Fundraising Calendar you can make a donation, purchase a calendar, be a sponsor and more! Click HERE to go to our IndieGoGo campaign.  

As always THANK YOU for reading <3

 ~ Wendy 

Clicks for a Cause