Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a progressive disease that affects many Team IMPACT teammates throughout the country. Children with CF face various challenges, and their involvement in Team IMPACT, along with their family, provides a source of light and comfort. AJ and his family sat down with us to share a bit of their story.
AJ is one of three teenage boys in his house. All three share a love of being outdoors and active. From basketball to running cross country, if they aren’t participating, they are watching! Between games, practice and just being outside, the family spends a lot of time traveling together, enjoying new places and experiences as a family.
The Team IMPACT program is one of those experiences they could share together. AJ, matched with UCF’s men’s basketball team, has been something to look forward for him after a long road throughout the years with CF. AJ was diagnosed with CF as a newborn. His mom Amanda is a pediatric nurse, and had worked with CF kids in her work. She was not only aware of the disease but was close with the doctors and respiratory therapists at the time she had AJ, providing a helpful familiarity with CF. AJ’s younger brother Jonah also has CF, but their challenges with the disease are different. Shares Amanda: “AJ has more lung involvement and needs respiratory treatments more, especially when sick. Jonah has a feeding tube for weight gain and even deepens on gastric pacer for stomach emptying.”
While Amanda was familiar with the disease in her role as a pediatric nurse, she hadn’t heard of Team IMPACT until one of the social workers at the CF clinic approached her. They said it was a program their whole family might enjoy, and they were right! Amanda noted what the program and match has meant to them. “Team Impact has given our family something to look forward to. AJ is the one who participated and he enjoyed getting to know the players and then seeing how they play in their game. They were always so happy to see him and encouraged him. AJ has become more confident in speaking to people he doesn’t know.”