Popillion family fights alongside Dance Marathon
Tristian was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 13 months old. He is now 11, familiar with the daily routine of segmented pills and wearing a vest that handles the effects of cystic fibrosis. Tristian and his family will be dancing in Dance Marathon, which helps children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
January 19, 2012
When Tristan Popillion was 15-months-old, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
“When he was first diagnosed, it was very scary,” said Amy Popillion, Tristan’s mother. “Only about 30,000 adults and children in the U.S. have CF, so it isn’t something that people are always familiar with. Our experience with CF was of a co-worker Jason [Tristan’s father] worked with who had died from CF and another story of a young 11-year-old girl who had also died from it.”
When he was first diagnosed, the median age life expectancy for cystic fibrosis patients was approximately 27. However, every year with progressing research and discoveries their life expectancy continues to improve.
Tristan became involved with Dance Marathon about seven years ago while at the Iowa City Medical Center. Since attending his first Dance Marathon, it has become one of his favorite events of the year.
Amy, senior lecturer in human development and family studies at Iowa State, said, “Dance Marathon is truly a gift to our family. It is something that my kids look forward to every year and is one big way that makes having such a sucky disease more bearable. … One of our favorite sayings in the CF community is that someday CF will stand for ‘Cure Found.'”
