<P>I could have been diagnosed prior to my being 47 (1987) but the SWEAT TEST wasn't invented until 1950. The GENE wasn't discovered until 1989. When I was diagnosed (in 1987) it was a major breakthrough. My life expecdency at that time was 18. Up until that time I showed all of the "classic" signs of CF but was TOO OLD TO HAVE CF. Before being dx I had part of my stomach removed and had been hospitalized almost 70 times for pancreatitis. Only after being DX did I begin to see "good health". Have I been "lucky", damn right! Are you lucky that you were born in 1995 and not earlier, damn right. None of us have it easy. There are almost 1900 mutations so alot of us travel different roads to get to where we are now. I don't look at those who are CF free and say, why not me, nor do I look at someone like you and say thank God I dont need a transplant. I don't like the path that life has given me and you shouldn't either but it is MY PATH. I am living with it the best that I can. I'm sorry to hear that you need a transplant but glad to hear that you will getting one. In 1987 lung transplants had not yet been invented and alot of good people died. A transplant could turn your life around not to mention VX770 & VX806.</P>
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<P>Bill</P>