Anyone living in Arizona?

Stacy1

New member
Hi! Just wondering if anybody out there lives in Arizona. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 

ehtansky21

New member
Hi Stacy,
We actually live in Chandler, AZ. We have Ethan Sky, 19 months, going to Phoenix Children's Hospital for his CF care. Where are you at???
 

Stacy1

New member
Hello!
Thanks for writing. I'm in Glendale with my husband and 6 year old son - who doesn't have CF. I also go to Phoenix Children's Hospital. I see Dr. Gong and I love him! Although all of the CF doctors are fantastic. Which Dr. do you guys see? When was your son diagnosed?
 

ehtansky21

New member
We see Dr. Radford and have Kim Peet as his nutritionist. Ethan SKy was diagnosed right before Christmas last year. I am not too sure if the people at PCH like us too much. We don't automatically go for the treatment they recommend, simply because they are the specialists. So I think we are a little more challenging then they would like. But they have been pretty patient with us!
 

anonymous

New member
Refreshing to hear people talk about the medical care in AZ. My husband and I plan to move out to Tucson, AZ and I have checked out the University Medial Center that has a CF center but just for children at this point. They do treat about 40+ adults. I was very happy with the Docs I talked to. Does anyone have information or opinions on the UMC CF Center in Tucson. Also, how is it living in AZ? I find humidity to be VERY hard to handle and I love the dry air in AZ. My husband and I both LOVE warm/hot weather and we thought AZ would be a great move. Any info or opinions are welcomed!

Jennifer 33yrs old with CF, CFRD and Osteopenia
 

Stacy1

New member
Hi Jennifer,

I live in Glendale AZ - about 2 hours North of Tucson, so I don't know anything about the UMC CF Center there. But I can tell you that the weather here is great and DRY! It's really hot in the summer, but I think it's a climate that people can adapt quickly to. I'm originally from Wisconsin and I had a hard time with the humidity there, so this is a big (positive) difference for me. As for the CF Dr. I see here in Phoenix, it is also a childrens hospital. I'm not sure how many adult patients they see, but they are a great team and I wouldn't think about going elsewhere. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

Take Care!
 

anonymous

New member
Thanks for your reply. Phoenix does have an Adult CF Center, any reason you do not go to it??? I do not have the name of it with me, but if you need it I can post it later.

Can not wait to move to AZ. I am from Illinois, right by the WI border, so I know what you mean about humidity.

Good Luck and thanks for the info!


Jennifer 33yrs old with CF, CFRD and Osteopenia
 

anonymous

New member
Stacy,

I just found my information on Phoenix CF center. It is at the Phoenix Childrens Hospital, so is that where you go? The head of it is DR. Gerald Gong. The center in Tucson is headed up by Dr. Wayne Morgan, but I spoke with Dr.Mark Brown and nurse Joanne Douthit. I was very impressed with them, but the one thing that made me weary was that Phoenix had the adult center and Tucson at this point does not. Maybe that will change by the time I get to Tucson.

Anymore information on AZ is welcomed!


Jennifer 33 yrs old with CF, CFRD and Osteopenia
 

anonymous

New member
Hi Jennifer,

I go to Phoenix Children's Hospital and I see Dr. Gong. He's an awesome Dr. So when are you moving here?
 

anonymous

New member
Jennifer,
My son, who is 8 years old, gets treated at the CF center in Tucson, with UMC doctors. They are THE BEST. I took my son to 7 pediatritions and none of them could diagnose my son....but a UMC doctor did. The team is THE BEST...they really do care a great deal, and they have helped us in anyway they can with all sorts of little (and big!) 'bumps' along the way. In fact, we were actually thinking about moving out of state, closer to my folks, but we are staying here strickly because we feel that the best care for Nicolas is here, in Tucson at UMC. The concern of your care should be the least concern of your move.....rest assured, with UMC, you will be in good hands...plus...I think they were awarded grant for reasearching CF!!!! Best of luck to you!!!

Katrina,
mom of Nicolas 8, w/cf and Lindsey,5, w/out CF
 

anonymous

New member
Thanks for the posts from Katrina, WOW I feel so good about the UMC!!! Stacy, we are planning to move to Tucson in 4-5 years. I hope by then the UMC will have a adult center or be treating even more adults by then.

I was VERY impressed with the Docs at the UMC and had a great/informative meeting with Dr. Brown and nurse Douthit.

Thanks for all the information guys!

I can not wait to get to Tucson! It is so pretty with the mountains, weather.

Katrina, you live in Tucson? We have visited several times and for sure like and will live in the north, northwest/northeast area. Any other tips!!!!!


Jennifer 33yrs old with CF, CFRD and Osteopenia
 

anonymous

New member
Hi Jennifer!!!
I have to wait 4-5 years until you get here???? <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> The north/northwest side of town is the best area, as far as I'm concerned...lol....we live far north in the area of 'Catalina'....up by Oro Valley, if this at all seems familar to you. I can be contacted at nicsey@msn.com if you have any questions/concerns at all, I'll be happy to help. I would be really interested in talking to you anyway, as my son grows up and faces challenges that you have already faced.....I hope to hear from you soon!
Katrina
 

anonymous

New member
Hi Stacy,

I have 2 kids that go to the U of A. My daughter is a jr. and doesn't have CF, but my son, who is a freshman does. He is also diabetic. Since you are young, I was hoping you could give me some advice or whatever. My son was always soooo good about everything and had such a great attitude. THen is high school this all changed. Drinking, etc. and I know he tried some drugs. Anyway, we had 1 problem after another. He has been hospitalized a few times. The last was about a month before school started. he had torn his meniscus in his knee in May so stopped exercising. He had been doing a lot of exercise and taking supplements and lifting weights & looked the best ever and had gained weight, etc. Then when he messed up his knee and stopped working out, he started losing some weight, etc. He had not been that consistent with his treatments but I think the exercise was saving him. Then he went to Cancun and when he got back was sick - what a suprise!! We had warned him about going, but he had saved money for it and both his older brother and sister went, so it was hard to say no because of his CF. Anyway, after his summer he had lost 23 lbs and had a big lung infection and went in the hospital. He said it was his fault that he had not taken care of himself and he had blown it, etc. His cf doc had warned him that about 50% of her cf patients that go away to college ended up dropping out their first semester because they don't take care of themselves. (We are from Calif) He acted like he really knew what could happen if he didn't put his health first.

WELL, he is partying up a storm and not doing his treatments very regularly. We just got back from Family Weekend and he looked so thin and pale - like he did after Cancun. He just doesn't seem to get it. I don't know what to do. He claims if we gave him more money he could buy more food and wouldn't be so thin. We are trying to get him to spend his money smartly, since he has not been very careful in the past - I know he was buying alcohol, etc. I feel I'm stuck in the middle between him and my husband who wants him to be responsible and think before he just spends money on the most expensive fast food all the time as opposed to going to the store and picking up cheaper stuff. He joined a fraternity and eats there for a lot of meals, but says he doesn't like the food that much. It is perfect for him to gain weight on. He is on dorm probation because they found some kids drinking in his room. He just doesn't seem to get it! He is such a great kid, or at least was. He shouldn't be drinking much if at all. It is like he has forgotten his 2 wks in the hospital in July.

I don't think you have answers for me, but I guess I just wanted to vent. I have been crying off and on since leaving him. I was so hoping he would have grown up a little and started taking care of himself like he used to, but now I am afraid he is going to get sick again and school will be over for him. Is this typical? He just got an insulin pump and I think he is taking better care of his diabetes, but when we were there last weekend - twice he forgot his enzymes when we went to eat! Help!

Thanks for listening - or rather reading!

Susie
 
Top