Our Story

After several years of dating my childhood crush, Jason Matthew, I married him July 7, 2007. And though many things have changed in our lives since then, one thing has remained constant: our love (for better or worse, for richer or poorer, all the days of our lives).


We found out that we were expecting our first child December 15, 2007 and were ecstatic. I experienced no complications throughout the pregnancy but prenatal testing discovered that I was a carrier of the CF gene. Upon receiving these unexpected results, the doctor requested Jay be tested as well. The results determined that he was also a carrier of the CF gene. At first we were devastated but then we began to ask a million questions. What did these results entail for our unborn child? We began to explore the possibilities There was a 25% chance that our child would have CF, a 50% chance that our child would be a carrier of the CF gene like us, and a 25% that our child would not carry either CF gene). We decided not to undergo amniocentesis testing or chorionic villus sampling to determine the exact outcome because nothing could be changed and it was not worth the risk.

On August, 25, 2008, my husband and I welcomed our son, Nathan Parker Skretkowicz, into our lives. Nathan arrived full term, weighing 7 lbs 11 oz. and measuring 21.5 inches long.

Soon after, the doctors became concerned that Nathan was not gaining weight properly. After a series of inconclusive Sweat Tests, his blood was tested for the presence of specific CF genes and when he was one month of age (September 29, 2008), Nathan was officially diagnosed with CF.

CF is a life shortening, genetic disease where the body produces unusually thick mucus. This thick mucus clogs the lungs and leads to life threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and prevents enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

A typical day caring for Nathan includes several nebulizer treatments to open his airways followed by chest percussion therapy (CPT) to break up the mucus in his lungs. After CPT, he gets another nebulizer treatment of antibiotic to eradicate bacteria in his tiny lungs. In order for Nathan to digest and absorb the food he consumes, he must take enzyme capsules with each meal, currently 16 capsules per day. He gets supplements of salt daily because he does not retain as much salt as other individuals, and he gets special vitamins which include fat soluble vitamins that he has trouble absorbing. Currently, during the at risk season, Nathan receives monthly injections to protect him from RSV, a virus that could cause serious lung infection and potentially death.

I am trying to be as proactive as a mother in my attempt to help Nathan fight CF. I know God will not abandon me or my family on this journey even though the health of my son and the financial state of my family is a constant worry.