I agree with Alisha- a deep breath would be good right now. I know it's a shock.
When I was born, they told my parents that they would be lucky to have me to age 3. Well, I am now 37 years old (which is about the median life expectance now, and going up!), married for 15 years, with a 4 year old daughter.
All the new treatments that have come out in just the last several years are amazing, and have made a wonderful difference in my life, even though I didn't get to have them until my 20's and 30's. I have great hope for this upcoming generation, with the drugs and treatments that are coming down the line, and the information that new parents of cf patients have, that my parents didn't have.
Try not to let all the info out on the internet scare you too much-some of it is outdated (this is a good place to find out the latest info), and not everyone comes down with every symptom, at the same time.
Yes, having to do treatments is a royal pain sometimes, having to go in the hospital for the periodic IV medicines is a royal pain a lot of the time, sometimes it's downright scary if I'm really sick, but I can honestly say that I am happy with my life and I wouldn't trade what I have now for anything. I have a full life; Cf is just one aspect of it that I have to make accomedations for.
And I also believe that it has helped me be a more forgiving, compassionate and less self centered person than I would have been, and therefore added more life to my years. For that I am thankful. Go figure <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
Life is still made up of the mountains and the valleys, no matter what hand you are dealt. Just sometimes they are different hills and valleys than we expected.
I am glad to have been given this chance at life, and am making the most of it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> . My parents, my sister and my husband seem to like having me around, too <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .
This is a wonderful place for information and support. I will be praying for you and your family.