Alison is a stay-at-home mother and volunteer for the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a nonprofit donor-supported organization. The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections, obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
The CF Foundation is the leading organization in the United States devoted to cystic fibrosis. It funds and accredits more than 115 CF care centers, 95 adult care programs and 50 affiliate programs, and has 80 chapters and branch offices nationwide.
Some of Alison's family members are carriers of one of the gene mutations that cause CF. Fortunately for Alison, genetic testing as well as more conventional sweat tests have confirmed that her family members simply carry one defective gene. To actually havecystic fibrosis and suffer from its symptoms, a person must inherit two copies of the defective CF gene—one copy from each parent. Alison's experience with this disease inspired her to help others learn about promising treatments for CF through participating in InjuryBoard's guest blogger program.