Cystic Fibrosis Podcast

In Jerry’s latest podcast, we meet Beth Gerritsen – mother to Charlie, who has cystic fibrosis, and Willie, who does not. From raising her boys in the Virgin Islands to moving back to the states, she shares some insight into CF care in the VI, how it impacted Charlie’s health, and more.

This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In his latest podcast, Jerry chatted with Charlie, 11 with CF, and his older brother Willie about the CF-sibling relationship. They talk about spending almost all of their time together, playing sports, their goals, and more.

To his fellow CF patients, Charlie says, “Stay strong. Never give up. And always do your treatments.”

This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest CF Podcast, we meet Griffin Taylor, a 15-year-old who loves lacrosse and squash, is on his school’s robotics team, and is his class’s treasurer. During quarantine, Griffin started The Salty Scholar, a tutoring service to assist with virtual learning. When he saw his mom – a teacher – go through the virtual learning process, he realized that it was a perfect opportunity to help other CF patients who may have to take long absences while in the hospital or sick.

Tune in to learn more about Griffin and The Salty Scholar!

This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest CF Podcast, Jerry speaks with Dwight Cheu, CEO of ZephyRx, a home-based respiratory diagnostic testing and therapy that allows patients to actively manage and improve their own lung health through telehealth, video games, and virtual reality.

Cheu describes the positives of the product: at-home testing capabilities, prevention of extended travel to clinic, PFT results automatically transmitted to appropriate physicians, and more.

Tune in to learn about ZephyRx and how it can encourage patients to manage their own health and proactively gain independence.

This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

The You Cannot Fail Rare Disease podcast series was created so that the Boomer Esiason Foundation can shine a spotlight on other people and organizations in the rare disease community.

In the second episode, Swapna Kakani discusses dealing with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after her small intestine organ transplant. In June 2014, after checking a few things off of her bucket list, Swapna decided that she was ready to have a small intestine transplant and to deal with the complications that often accompany an organ transplant.

Tune in to learn more about Swapna’s transplant journey.

This video podcast series was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Atara Bio to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

The You Cannot Fail Rare Disease podcast series was created so that the Boomer Esiason Foundation can shine a spotlight on other people and organizations in the rare disease community.

In the first episode, Swapna Kakani shares her story about being born with a rare disease, short bowel syndrome and later developing rare PTLD (Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder). Because of her experiences, she founded Alabama Rare, a grassroots coalition to unite the state around the rare disease population. The coalition acts to bring support to individuals and families, and advocate for necessary change.

Tune in to learn more about the rare disease community! This video podcast series was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Atara Bio to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I believe in enjoying life and living it to the fullest, having fun, and just enjoying time.”

Brayden Walsh, a 16-year-old living with CF, joins Jerry Cahill’s CF Podcast to share his experience as one of the 10% of patients without modulators available for treatment. Even though he deals with a number of other illnesses on top of CF, Brayden does not allow any of that to limit him. He plays sports, hikes, hunts, fishes, and loves being physically active in any way that is safe for his health.

Tune in to learn more about Brayden.

This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

In the latest CF Podcast, Anthony Esposito, aka Espo 2, shares why he loves fitness and nutrition. While he doesn’t have CF himself, he wants to inspire all people to improve their health with his Youtube channel – and to convince people that burpees are the best!

This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Gilead to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I love ice hockey because it really opens up my life and makes me stop thinking about cystic fibrosis and worrying about my health.”

Meet Reilly Hoagland! Reilly was diagnosed at 4-years-old with cystic fibrosis, but has never let it stop him from living life the way he wants. Reilly is an honor roll student who loves sports and travels up and down the east coast with his hockey team. And he has been running in the Boomer’s CF Run to Breathe every year with his team, Reilly’s Rockstars.

Tune in to hear more about Reilly.

This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“I’ve always felt gratitude for the hospital staff, but this was over and above. We all know how contagious this is, and they knew that pretty early on. And yet, their job is to care for people and they did it regardless of their own risk. They did it with such kindness and caring.”

Jerry caught up with Kay W. to talk about her experience of living through a COVID diagnosis while living with cystic fibrosis. She shared her initial symptoms, how they developed, her time in intensive care, and what positive thoughts helped her get through the toughest times.

Tune in to hear Kay’s story.

This video podcast was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.