10 Years in the making...

Ten years ago I remember telling a friend that I didn't want to fundraise. I didn't want to talk about CF and I sure did not want to spend all of my free time fighting it. I was inundated with doctors appointments,feeding schedules and I felt like I was giving more medicines to my newborn baby then I did to my patients in the ICU. I was terrified about my families future and even more terrified that I had no control over my life. I felt as if I was under a microscope and everyone was watching. I could feel the sorrow in peoples eyes when they asked how Sal was doing and it broke my heart. Cystic Fibrosis felt like it was consuming my life and even when I tried to pretend everything was normal I felt worse. Well, four months went by after Sal's diagnosis and it seemed that the only thing that did make me feel like I had any control was learning all I could about cf. The fear of the unknown, that's what made me feel so terriable inside. Once I could accept our new reality and fully understand what it was that we were dealing with then, then I could move on. With the motivation of my sister Nikki and the support of our family and friends Sal's Pals was born! For the first time everything felt right. Sure, we had no idea what we were doing when we entered into the fundraising arena but what I did know was that it felt right. The microscope felt as if it had been lifted and the sorrow I once felt as people looked at my son turned into helping hands. Over the past ten years we have held our annual dinner and auction, wine tastings, corporate golf outings, motorcyle runs, school and corporate jeans days, taught science classes,St.Patty's Day bead selling events,cornhole tournamnets,girlscout rocking chair events, Sal's Pals at the Mud Hens,Casino trips, New York City Marathon, Tatoo Parties, Nascar races, radio Shows, Carnivals, Weddings, Parking Lot Party and newly added to the list is a RODEO event! If I would have had a crystal ball ten years ago and seen this list I'm pretty sure that would have been the end of me! Ten years wiser, I know now God doesn't give you more than you can handle. The continued success of the theraputic drug pipeline and the advancements in cystic fibrosis research that are "adding tommorrows everyday" for those afflicted with cystic fibrosis are improving my sons life that I was once was so uncertain about. Please join us for our 10th Annual Dinner and Auction as Sal's Pals continues in the fight against cystic fibrosis. The event will be held Saturday May 12th, 2012 at St. Francis High School.