By Kiyana Collins
Cystic Fibrosis (also known as CF) is a life threatening disorder that corrupts the lungs and the digestive system. It is genetically inherited and limits the ability to breathe due to a thick buildup of mucus. Some common symptoms of CF include frequent coughing or wheezing, poor weight gain or growth, and lung infections including pneumonia and bronchitis.
17 year -old Sydney Loper was diagnosed with CF at the age of 3. Throughout the course of her day, Sydney takes 30-35 pills along with breathing treatments and chest therapy twice a day to help maintain her health. Growing up with CF, Sydney had a hard time in school with her fellow peers. She began homeschooling her freshman year of high school, due to complications with her health. "It started with students not understanding " Sydney goes on to say, "and they would just come up, and be like , 'oh she's just missing for no reason, and she's gone die when she's 21.'" "That was the hardest part for me."
Using Cystic Fibrosis as her platform, Sydney participates in pageants where she has been crowned several times. Her mother, Johnna Loper, who is her biggest supporter, helps Sydney with her day to day strife with CF. "Everything that Sydney tries or does, she succeeds," Johnna says, "Everything she does, she amazes me. She doesn't give up just like her pageants, she started in January. She said she wanted to do it and she has put a 110% in it, you know, she amazes me."
To this day Sydney is the healthiest now than she has ever been in the past. She continues to compete in pageants with Johnna by her side.
Kiyana Collins
Mandesha Thornton
Mason Graves
Cystic Fibrosis (also known as CF) is a life threatening disorder that corrupts the lungs and the digestive system. It is genetically inherited and limits the ability to breathe due to a thick buildup of mucus. Some common symptoms of CF include frequent coughing or wheezing, poor weight gain or growth, and lung infections including pneumonia and bronchitis.
17 year -old Sydney Loper was diagnosed with CF at the age of 3. Throughout the course of her day, Sydney takes 30-35 pills along with breathing treatments and chest therapy twice a day to help maintain her health. Growing up with CF, Sydney had a hard time in school with her fellow peers. She began homeschooling her freshman year of high school, due to complications with her health. "It started with students not understanding " Sydney goes on to say, "and they would just come up, and be like , 'oh she's just missing for no reason, and she's gone die when she's 21.'" "That was the hardest part for me."
Using Cystic Fibrosis as her platform, Sydney participates in pageants where she has been crowned several times. Her mother, Johnna Loper, who is her biggest supporter, helps Sydney with her day to day strife with CF. "Everything that Sydney tries or does, she succeeds," Johnna says, "Everything she does, she amazes me. She doesn't give up just like her pageants, she started in January. She said she wanted to do it and she has put a 110% in it, you know, she amazes me."
To this day Sydney is the healthiest now than she has ever been in the past. She continues to compete in pageants with Johnna by her side.
Kiyana Collins
Mandesha Thornton
Mason Graves