The Role of Exercise

I haven't yet talked about the importance of exercise in the treatment of CF, and that is a serious lapse on my part. Exercise has been a part of Holly's regimen since she was old enough to run and jump. Before she was two, doctors told us that jumping on the trampoline was beneficial to kids with CF, because it helped shake the mucous free from the lungs to make it easier to cough out. As much as anything, I think it was the exercise and taking deep breaths that helped. We were very careful with the trampoline, and no one was hurt on or around it. However, I know that American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents keep children away from trampolines. That still leaves a host of other activities that kids love and that get them breathing hard and coughing. When Holly was really small, we would sometimes have short little races with her, pushing her to run as fast as she could, then encouraging her to cough. Then we'd sprint again, over and over until we saw she was wearing out or tiring of our game. Other times, she we'd get her on her big wheel, and when she was older she really enjoyed riding her bike.

After living in Dallas when she was diagnosed, then being transferred first to St. Louis then New Jersey, we moved back to Texas. Knowing the heat would be hard on her, we bought a smaller, older house in order to be able to afford a pool. As soon as I could, I taught both girls to swim. In the summer they spent most of their days in the pool with each other and/or friends. I have great memories of watching them and listening to them laugh as they swam and played in the water. Frequently, they'd swim most of the morning then eat lunch on the trampoline before getting back in the water. When she hit the pre-adolescent years, we got her involved in swimming. She first swam on the city team, and when she hit high school, she swam on that team. Sometimes, she swam so hard that she couldn't get out of the pool and had to be pulled out by team members, but it did the job and helped keep her lungs clean!

Holly had a somewhat unusual school path and left high school after her sophomore year. (More about that in another post.) That ended her competitive swimming for a couple of years until she left home for the University of North Texas. At that time, knowing that there was no one around to do chest physiotherapy (CPT), she started swimming again to help fill in the gap.

It helps to just think creatively. Put on your "thinking cap" to come up with ideas to spur your kiddo to exercise more. Dance, even in your living room, requires good deep breathing. I'm talking bouncing around, active dancing. The kind that kids really like. Basketball, soccer, even just "chase" will do it. Those kids of things also encourage your child to be outside rather than inside parked in front of the brain-draining television.

For more encouragement, check out Jerry Cahill's You Cannot Fail through the Boomer Eaiason Foundation's website. Jerry (who is 55!) was a pole-vaulter for a long time and now coaches it. He still finds ways to keep exercising even when he has to carry his oxygen with him. He is a real inspiration!

Let me know what you use with your kiddos to help keep them breathing deeply and coughing. This is a great place to share!

2012

Today is January 2, 2012. I hope for all of you that this is a an exceptional year of growth and health for you and yours!

There's a great website I suggest you visit: http://esiason.org/thriving-with-cf/you-cannot-fail.php featuring Jerry Cahill and the Boomer Esaison Foundation. Jerry has recently launched his I Cannot Fail effort to encourage those with CF and others to be the best they can possibly be. Be the hero of your own story is one of my favorite of Jerry's sayings. You can read about him and buy his book, a T-shirt and/or wrist band at this site. I strongly encourage you to do so.

Through Jerry I also learned of Moganko for CF . It's a great blog by another man with CF. He is using his "friend," a puppet/muppet named Monganko, to spread the word about CF and encourage those who have it to take care of themselves. He's starting a campaign to get the Muppets to join him to raise awareness about CF. You can join his efforts at the site.

We have more people than ever before promoting health for our sons and daughters no matter their age. I am grateful to them and to those who raise money for a cure. We need them all. Thank you  Jerry, Josh and the CF Foundation for all your efforts!

Caren