Concerned mother for my Stepchildren and my own

[cltmb]

My 25 year old stepdaughter was just diagnosed with CF. her 21 year old half sister has ben diagnosed as a carrier.
There is also a 18 year old brother. I am the Stepmother who is concerned and scared. I have a 9 year old son from the same father of the 21 and 18 year olds. I guess my question is what are the odds of the youngest havig CF and if there is even a chance of this. There is no CF in my family history. I am very concered and could use the support.
e-mails welcome.... cltmb@aol.com subject line.... CF

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[anonymous]

There was no CF history in my husbands side of the family either. You dont have to have someone in your family to be a carrier. Get him tested, or yourself to see if you are a carrier first...

 

[EmilysMom]

There was no history of CF on my husbands side of the family or mine until Emily was born 21 years ago. Somestimes, it just "pops up" and surprises you. Our families were just lucky I guess until my husband and I got together! I forget what the numbers are exactly but something like 1 in 2000 is a carrier of the CF gene and doesn't know it because there are no symptoms and no one thinks to get tested for it until there is a reason to (like a family history).
You should be tested to see if you are a carrier just for your piece of mind. Obviously Dad is a carrier to have children with CF. If not are not a carrier, your worry stops there. If you are a carrier, then have your youngest checked just to be sure. ;o)

 

[anonymous]

Actually, about 1/25 people are carrier's of the cf gene here in the United States. It does vary with race. We didn't know that cf ran on either side of our family before my daughter was diagnosed.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 3 and Jack, 18 months with cf

 

[EmilysMom]

Sharon is correct...I told you I couldn't remember the numbers....DUH! 1 in 25 is a carrier.....1 in 2,000 is a child born with CF. That's what the numbers quoted used to be. I would imagine those numbers have been updated.