Each spring when Great Strides rolls around and we begin fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Julie and I do our best to write a letter that grabs people’s attentions and hopefully inspires them to make a donation. This is actually a pretty tough task. We want to convey how devastating cystic fibrosis is, yet still rejoice in the fact that our son, Jacob, is doing well. We want to share that although Jacob’s health continues to be good, living with the disease has really taken a toll on him emotionally this year. And while we are incredibly fortunate that Jacob is doing well, lives are lost everyday. Despite the medical breakthroughs being made each day, children and adults fighting for their lives are losing their battle with cystic fibrosis.

Last week, as we toured our daughter Sophie’s classroom for open house, hanging on the bulletin board was a paper she’d written in class about her greatest wishes. Included among her noble thoughts was this one:

“I wish my brother didn’t have cystic fibrosis. He has to do breathing treatments two times a day and take many pills. Sometimes he gets so sick he has to go in the hospital.”

These succinct, simple words by our beautiful 10-year-old daughter brought tears to our eyes, summing up what our entire family, both blood and extended, are feeling.

Back in December, I purchased the title track/first single to Bruce Springsteen’s latest. As the song has received regular airplay in our house since then, the words have taken on deeper meaning.

I’m working on a dream
Though trouble can feel like it’s here to stay
I’m working on a dream
Our love will chase the trouble away

I’m working on a dream
Though it can feel so far away
I’m working on a dream
And our love will make it real someday (more…)