Patrick Hayes (age 36)

Pat was born with a bowel obstruction  back in 1973. That's how they found out he had CF.  The doctors were able to do surgery to fix the obstruction, they didn't think he would live.  His family was so scared they didn't want to see him.  It was his grandmother that had faith that he would make it. After she saw him after the surgery she walked out and told everyone that he was the loudest baby in the room!  He still has the scars from the cut downs where they placed the IV's. Growing up he never had someone to tell him to take his meds or treatments.  He was always in the hospital sick with lung infections . He was so sick he spent more time in the hospital than at home. Just before he was 18 his doctor told him if he didn't have his right middle lobe of his lung removed he would die soon. He was running temps over 101 even with IV drugs. So on his 18th birthday he went in to have it out.  After that he started to take care of himself. He joined a gym and worked out. Took all his meds, and breathing treatments. He would go into the hospital once or twice a year after that. The again in 2000 he had his lower right lobe removed because it was so chronic.  His breathing has been getting worse over time. He started using O2 about 3 years ago. Now he's on O2 now 24/7. He's on the lung transplant list at Brigham and Womens' in Boston Massachusetts and is undergoing tests to be put back on the active list.