CF Clinic program gets assistance
from Wal-Mart
Not all
problems associated with children’s weight regards obesity. A problem
for some is they cannot gain enough weight to sustain healthy growth.
Kristin Crady
accepts a $1,000 check from Don Angelo, assistant manager of the North
Charleston Wal-Mart.While not as common a problem in otherwise healthy children, some children who suffer from an inability to gain enough weight suffer from cystic fibrosis (CF), which is an inherited genetic disorder that effects the body’s respiratory and digestive systems.
While the extent of the disease varies with each individual, patients with CF typically have difficulty maintaining an acceptable body weight, according to Kristin Crady, an MUSC registered dietitian who specializes in CF in children.
To help support dietetic treatment for children with CF, the Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Fund was created to develop ways for children to reach their nutrition potential. Wal-Mart was the first to donate to this fund, giving $1,000 to the program.
“This money will be used to start an incentive program through the pediatric CF Clinic that awards children prizes for meeting individual nutrition goals,” said Crady, who manages the program.
She expressed hope that positive reinforcement will be the key to success for the children. “My goal for this program is to get the children to their weight potential and show them that a little hard work can really improve their quality of life,” Crady said.
Meanwhile, research has shown a connection between good lung function and a higher body weight in patients of all ages. “Those who are at their ideal body weight or higher have stronger immune systems to fight infection,” Crady said.
At MUSC, the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic follows patients from infant years through adulthood. “The pediatric clinic focuses a great deal on nutrition, because early intervention increases a patient’s life expectancy and overall quality of life,” Crady said.
To keep this program going, Crady said more financial support is needed. For information, call 792-8933 or e-mail cradyk@musc.edu.
Friday, Oct. 12, 2007
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