TOWAMENCIN- During the high school years of a person’s life, a key concept seems to be lost among the students- perspective, an idea that allows someone to step in the shoes of his or her peers and see the world as they do. Most kids do not take into account what could possibly be happening to their peers behind closed doors.
Take, for example, Samantha “Sammie” Schwartz, a senior at the high school. At first glance, she seems to be another bright face among the throng that makeup the North Penn student body. However, not everything is as it seems; Sammie has a rare condition that obfuscates her future.
“I was diagnosed [with Cystic Fibrosis] at 2 years old.” says Sammie. “I do two respiratory and two nebulizer treatments a day.”
For those that are unaware, Cystic Fibrosis — or CF — is a rare condition that affects around 70,000 people worldwide, targeting the lungs and pancreas of the individual. There is no cure, and the ill suffer from repetitive lung infections due to a genetic mutation that omits a protein crucial to lung functionality.
To many, this may sound like a bleak condition that offers no hope. However, Sammie believes that an upbeat attitude is the best way to combat the disease.
“It gets frustrating at times but I’m so used to it that its just a normal thing to me,” says Sammie. “I’m pretty used to everything CF throws my way. I would say just keep a positive attitude and don’t let [CF] control your life.”
She also recognizes that donations for research may also hold the key.
“There are walks people do to raise money for CF, and everyone can always participate in the walks, or any type of donation goes a long way in funding the research to finding a cure.”
Sammie, in fact, has a fundraiser going on right now, hoping to raise funds for CF research. For more information, visit the link at http://www.cff.org/GiftReg/dsp_donationPage.cfm?AppealCode=ANF14&idUser=176103.
Put yourself in Sammie’s shoes and imagine what a donation from your peers would mean to you.
“Even just sharing the donation link on Facebook means a lot to me, but an actual donation would go above and beyond and really touch me,” she said.