To the Editor:

The annual Cystic Fibrosis walk will be held on May 14 at the Harn Homestead at 1721 N Lincoln Blvd in Oklahoma City.

With each passing year, your love and support has humbled me and given me every reason to believe we can fight this disease.

Because you so graciously support my son Ryne each year, I just wanted to remind you of Ryne’s story.

Ryne is 15 years old. He juggles his disease, school, and sports with what appears to be extraordinary ease.

Most people, who know Ryne, know that he must take enzymes before meals and snacks. We have all seen him puff on his inhaler at sporting events, but there is a whole other side.

What most people don’t know is that Ryne starts his day at 5:30 a.m.

The very first thing he does is around of three breathing treatments, all intended to aid his pulmonary functions.

Afterwards he takes his first round of “meds.”

Before the sun is up, Ryne has ingested eight different medications.

Then, at night, after his long day is done, he repeats another round of breathing treatments, medications, and wears an airway-clearing device.

Ryne has to do all of that just to get through a normal day like you and me.

The part we tend to forget is that without the breathing treatments, meds, inhalers, and clearing devices, Ryne would not have a normal days like other kids.

It takes great discipline on his part to stay healthy, but it’s the incredible science that has provided him the tools to do so.

Great people, like you, have afforded that science to kids with Cystic Fibrosis.

Money buys science and science buys life. Thank you for your support.

Please continue your support the foundation by donating at www.cff.org/great_strides.