Kaiden & Jason Ames

Kaiden was born with cystic fibrosis.

Kaiden Ames is a cute 5-year-old boy ready to start kindergarten. He’s lucky. Sixty years ago, kids like him didn’t make it to their school-age years.

That’s because Kaiden has cystic fibrosis, the most common fatal genetic disease affecting almost 4,000 children and young adults in Canada. Cystic fibrosis affects the digestive system and lungs. Persistent and ongoing infection in the lungs ultimately destroys these vital organs, and death is inevitable.

His dad, Jason, recalls when Kaiden was born: “He had a bowel obstruction. After multiple tests and newborn screening that is available in Ontario, it was confirmed that he had cystic fibrosis.”

If Kaiden had been born 60 years ago, he would have probably not seen his sixth birthday. But thanks to Cystic Fibrosis Canada’s dedication to research, kids like him are living well into their 40s. A new drug that he will be taking in a year will see him live beyond this threshold.”

jason ames

Jason and Kaiden’s mom are grateful for the funds that have gone to cystic fibrosis research. Research funded by Cystic Fibrosis Canada has made it possible for children like Kaiden to live beyond their childhood years and grow up to become adults. “The progress that has been made over the last few decades has made it possible for kids to live into their late 40s.”

As an example, Jason points to a new drug that has come on the market, which Kaiden will be taking in a year, when he turns 6. “It’s the next best thing to a cure,” says Jason. “This drug will see him live past the current life expectancy of people with cystic fibrosis” — something all parents want for their kids.

Thanks to Cystic Fibrosis Canada, one of 17 national health charities working under the HealthPartners umbrella to transform the health of Canadians, Kaiden is “living proof that donating to HealthPartners works.”