Current Ohio Northern University (ONU) freshmen, Alyson and Andrea Hoffman, are twins from Marion, Ohio, living with cystic fibrosis.
There is no current cure for cystic fibrosis, but these sisters are hopeful in one day seeing one. Alyson and Andrea will be giving a presentation Monday, Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Dicke Forum on the campus of ONU.
The purpose of the talk is to inform Ohio Northern University students and faculty about cystic fibrosis and why everyone should be educated on the disease.
Alyson is a public relations and communication studies double major while Andrea is studying political science and public relations.
Hoffman’s have been living with cystic fibrosis since birth, but were diagnosed at four months old. As infants, they were “failing to thrive,” with many issues in breathing, weight gain, rashes and more. After being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, Alyson and Andrea now find themselves visiting the hospital every six to eight weeks.
Every day, they go through a routine of breathing treatments and 20 pills to keep them alive and able to break down thick sticky mucus that is formed in their lungs.
They use The Monarch Airway Clearance System, comprised of four oscillating pods that vibrate to break up the mucus formed in their lungs.
Currently, a patient living with cystic fibrosis can expect to live to about 47 years old. Alyson and Andrea, however, are positive they will beat this statistic. Both exercise regularly, which helps them to manage their condition. Each have proudly competed in four half marathons.
Along with physically trying to manage their condition, the Hoffman sisters are strong advocates for children with medical handicaps.
They have advocated on both the state and federal levels. Consistently new drugs are being created and tested in an attempt to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.
“New drugs give all of us the hope of living longer and stronger lives. New drugs help to make our lives content, but still not easy” Andrea stated.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a national foundation that leads the world in awareness of the disease, research for the cure and financial support to make CF drugs widely available. The Foundation helps to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for research and works to increase life expectancy in sufferers by the decades.
