Product Description

Cystic Fibrosis: The Ultimate Teen Guide leaves no aspect of this disease untold. Based on a series of interviews with young people with CF and their family members, the day-to-day dealings of life as a cystic fibrosis patient are described. Some of the topics covered include a description of the illness; a comprehensive discussion of who gets the disease and why; an explanation of the procedures involved in diagnosing CF; coverage of the arduous daily therapies involved in maintaining the life of a person with CF; and the challenges of dealing with CF-related diabetes.

These teens' stories reflect how they live their lives to the fullest, how they are not bitter about their situations, and how they look forward to new medications, more-effective therapies, and—one day soon—a cure. Also included are stories told by people, now in their 30s and 40s, having CF who are still alive and coping well with the disease, demonstrating that progress is being made and that they can hope to live beyond their teen years, something that wasn't likely 20 years ago. This book is the ideal guide for any reader who wants positive medical information about CF, offering an extensive glossary and listings of books, websites, and organizations about Cystic Fibrosis.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #690011 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.70 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 259 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up–A solid introduction to the disease–the facts, the challenges, the complications, and the outlook for the future. A plethora of personal stories accompanies each chapter. The book opens with the author's account of going to CF camp for several years, the friends she made there, and the ones she lost. Each chapter has a small black-and-white photograph of her fellow campers. An anecdote about something that happened at camp follows the picture; it is italicized and in small print, making it difficult to read. Interspersed throughout the text are geometrical boxes with additional facts. Famous people who have the disease or who have a child, parent, or friend with it are mentioned. Large caption boxes are filled with quotes or poignant poems written by CF patients, and eye-opening statistics appear throughout. Notes follow each chapter. The afterword tells of the individuals mentioned in the book who accomplished something they never expected to live long enough to do, while others tell of the deaths of some of the teens introduced. Young adults with the disease will feel a part of a worldwide community after reading this book. There is optimism as well as sadness here, but most of all there is the resonance of CF sufferers' voices telling others, You are not alone.–Marilyn Fairbanks, Azure IRC, Brockton High School, MA
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Review
A solid introduction to the disease...A plethora of stories accompanies each chapter....Young adults with the disease will feel a part of a worldwide community after reading this book. There is optimism as well as sadness here, but most of all there is the resonance of CF sufferers' voices telling others, 'You are not alone.' (School Library Journal, 10/1/2006 )

...this great resource gives extensive medical and technical information as well as profound insight in the disease's human impact....this entry offers excellent research information for patients, families, and students. Its additional pages, however, provide even greater depth. Gripping personal accounts will pull in readers, teenage and adult, who are not familiar with the disease. (Voya )

About the Author
Melanie Ann Apel began writing about CF in 1995 and has since published more than 40 non-fiction books for children and young adults. She worked as a pediatric respiratory therapist at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago for six years.