Camryn Koke continues her fight against Cystic fibrosis in Southold

In the basement of the Koke family’s home in Southold, 9-year-old Camryn is allowed to play with her dollhouse for one hour each morning before heading to school. On a recent day, she held her favorite doll, Raquelle — a pretty fashionista who likes going to the spa and is featured on TV’s “Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse.” “She’s active and sassy — like me,” Camryn said with a smile as she smoothed the doll’s hair. In Camryn’s other hand was a nebulizer. The fourth-grader also wore a vest that provides periodic electronic chest compressions. Her mother, Jennifer, compared the motion to shaking a can of paint. When the vest is turned on, Camryn sounds like she’s talking through a fan. Camryn has been wearing this type of vest since she was just 15 months old, and now uses it twice a day for an hour per session. She said she doesn’t mind, though, because it helps her breathe better. Camryn is living with Cystic fibrosis. The hereditary chronic disease, the result of a defective gene, causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It also obstructs the pancreas and prevents natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. Life expectancy for people with CF is anywhere from 30 to 40 years. Ms. Koke first found out Camryn had Cystic fibrosis during her pregnancy. Blood tests later revealed that she and her husband, Mi...
Source: Cystic Fibrosis Worldwide Blog - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Community Sponsors Source Type: blogs