"65
Roses" is what little children suffering from Cystic Fibrosis call their
disease...as the following true story indicates, the words are much easier for
children to pronounce.
...Mary G
Weiss became a volunteer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 1965 after
learning that her three little boys had Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
Her duty was
to call every civic club, social, and service organization seeking financial
support for CF research.
Mary's
4-year-old son, Richard, listened closely to his mother as she made each
call. After several calls, Richard came into the room and told his
mother, "I know what you are working for" -
Mary was
dumbstruck because Richard did not know what she was doing, nor did he know
that he had Cystic Fibrosis.
With some
trepidation, Mary posed the question back to Richard, "What am I working
for, Richard?"
"You are
working for 65 Roses," he answered so sweetly. Mary was
speechless. She went over to him and tenderly pressed his tiny body to
hers. He could not see the tears running down Mary's cheeks as she
stammered, "Yes, Richard, I'm working for 65 Roses."
For the past
37 years, "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to
describe their disease. But making it easier to say doesn't make cystic
fibrosis any easier to live with...
...the ugly
fact is that Cystic Fibrosis is the number one genetic killer of children and
young adults in America today.
The 65 Roses
story has captured the hearts and emotions of all who have heard it. The
rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
