As a young family in LA, Thalia and Jimmy are all about embracing what makes them unique. From their love for vintage culture to navigating the challenges and joys of parenting, especially with their daughter's cystic fibrosis condition, this couple is focused on showing their kids that what makes them different is what makes them special.
Understanding Cystic Fibrosis and Its Impacts
Cystic fibrosis, or CF, is a genetic condition that mostly affects the lungs and digestive system. It causes thick mucus to build up in the body, which can lead to serious infections in the lungs and problems digesting food. Despite these challenges, the community around CF is incredibly supportive and resilient.
Thanks to advances in medical care, people with CF are living much longer than ever before. Decades ago, cystic fibrosis life expectancy wasn’t positive. Kids with CF often didn't make it to elementary school. Now, many live into their 40s and beyond, all thanks to better treatments that help manage the symptoms more effectively.
Treatment usually involves techniques to clear mucus from the lungs, medications to open airways or thin the mucus, and supplements to help with digestion. Newer treatments are targeting the root cause of CF, which could change the game for managing the disease.
The Quaintance family, who live with CF every day, are actively involved in raising awareness and funds for CF research. They find hope and strength in the tight-knit CF community and the ongoing progress being made to fight this condition. By learning about CF and understanding the real impact it has on families, we can all be better supporters and advocates for those affected by it.
Thalia and Jimmy are determined to help her embrace her differences and lead a life defined by her interests and passions, not just her condition.
Breakthrough Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis and Community Support
Advancements in cystic fibrosis treatments have significantly improved the quality of life for those with CF. Talia shared, "There's no cure as of right now but there are new medications like modulators to help them breathe better and reduce the amount of treatments needed per day." Being a part of a community plays a huge role in supporting families, sharing knowledge, and fundraising for research. [Support cystic fibrosis research and find out about the latest treatments](#).
Turning Limitations into Strengths
Living with cystic fibrosis involves navigating various limitations, but the Quaintance family focuses on the positives. They translate their love for alternative, vintage culture into their parenting, celebrating being unique and different. “[Cystic Fibrosis is] already going to make her different... So [we want to make] it normal," Thalia shares.
How does Cystic Fibrosis affect a child’s development?
Growing up with cystic fibrosis can definitely throw a few extra curves into the mix, especially when it comes to a child’s development. CF isn't just about managing coughs or taking meds; it can impact a kid's growth and how they catch up with their peers at school.
For starters, kids with CF might grow at a slower pace. The thick mucus that’s characteristic of CF can mess with how their bodies absorb nutrients, making it tricky to gain weight or grow tall like their classmates. But with the right nutritional support and some high-calorie snacks, they can often catch right up.
Socially and emotionally, these kids might face some unique challenges too. Frequent doctor visits and hospital stays can mean missing out on school and fun with friends, which can feel pretty isolating. That’s why it’s super important for parents, teachers, and friends to rally around, keeping them included and engaged whenever possible.
School can also be a bit of a balancing act. On a good day, a child with CF might run around at recess, tackle their schoolwork, and live pretty much like any other kid. But on tougher days, they might need to take it easy or catch up on work from home. Teachers and parents can work together to make sure these kids get the flexibility they need to stay on track academically without wearing themselves out.
The Broader Impact on Family Life
Living with CF doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed—it reshapes the entire family’s daily life. Managing CF means adjusting routines, planning around medical needs, and often, dealing with the emotional toll that a chronic illness can bring.
One of the first things to know about CF is that it can make someone more vulnerable to infections due to the thick mucus that can trap bacteria in the lungs. This means families often have to be extra vigilant about hygiene and avoiding germs.
Daily life with CF can involve a strict schedule of treatments and therapies, including chest physiotherapy, taking various medications, and following a specialized diet. This can mean multiple daily sessions of airway clearance and regular visits to the doctor or hospital for check-ups or treatments. For the whole family, this often means regular disruptions to daily routines and sometimes having to miss out on social events or family outings.
Emotionally, it can be tough. Parents and siblings may feel stress and anxiety about their loved one’s health, and there's often a learning curve in understanding how to best support them. It’s common for families to experience ups and downs as they navigate the complexities of CF together.
However, it’s not all challenges. Many families find that dealing with CF brings them closer together. They develop a unique resilience, learning to cherish the good days and support each other through the tough ones.
Can siblings live together?
Yes! If a sibling has cystic fibrosis, they can still live with the rest of the family. However, as mentioned before, it’s important to take extra caution with germs and illnesses. When discussing the dynamics of siblings living together, especially when one has CF, Talia explains the importance of normalizing their daughter's condition within the family so the siblings can grow together and enrich each other’s lives through their differences.
Advice for Parents of Kids with Cystic Fibrosis
If you’re a parent with a child who has cystic fibrosis, here is what Thalia has to say: 'First rule to my new cystic fibrosis (CF) parents: NEVER ever Google CF. Google is outdated. All factual up-to-date information is going to come directly from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,'" advises Thalia. This foundation provides protocols, research updates, and resources to support families.
How to Help Families with Cystic Fibrosis
Because this disease is classified as “rare”, it is not funded by the government in any way so all the research, medication, and aid come from private funding.
To support families like the Quaintances, consider contributing to organizations such as Miles for Cystic Fibrosis (M4CF) and the Healthwell Foundation. These groups provide crucial support for maintaining health and managing the financial burden of CF treatments.
