Reported By: Kelley Dunn
December 20, 2005
Parents will do whatever it takes to help their children when they're sick.
West Palm Beach’s Mary Weiss is no exception. Her three boys faced a terminal condition - Cystic Fibrosis. Their diagnosis was more than 40 years ago...and Mary has been doing "whatever it takes" ever since. That's why she is this week’s Kelley's Hero.
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "I kept going to doctor after doctor. I knew there was something wrong and all I was told was I was apprehensive. Anxious…this, that. After four years it turned out I was right."
Mary Weiss' greatest fear came true - her adorable son Richard had Cystic Fibrosis--the most seriously damaging genetic lung disease of children.
But the news got worse. The Weiss' oldest son Arthur was also diagnosed.
And Mary was pregnant with Anthony. They would later learn that he too had C.F.
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "It's beyond comprehension, description - but then once I knew what is was...the next question was what do we do about it."
Finding the best care and treatment was the priority. The Weiss family moved from Canada to Florida...salt air is good for C.F. patients. To raise awareness...Mary founded the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "I was in my house for 11 years. Literally in my home for 11 years...I had a separate life."
It was Mary's son, Richard, who unknowingly came up with 65 Roses...the national theme for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. (65 Roses® is what some children with CF call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce).
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "I was on the phone from morning to noon and one night Richard came toddling in - he didn't know he had Cystic Fibrosis. He said, ‘Mommy I know what you are working for.’ For once I did not make a speech. I said ‘Sweetheart what am I working for?’ He said ‘you're working for 65 Roses’. I took him in my arms...and didn't let him see the tears...and said ‘yes Sweetheart I’m working for 65 Roses!"
Progress has been made since Mary started her work for "65 Roses"…and since the national foundation started in 1955.
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "A child in 1955, that's not that long ago...didn't live to be older than five. When Richard was diagnosed in 1964--the average life expectancy was 13 to 15…so we added a decade. Today the median, not the average, is in the mid 30's."
Today Richard Weiss is 44. Anthony is 40. They're both married, successful and doing well. Sadly, their older brother Arthur lost his battle with Cystic Fibrosis.
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "Arthur was born on February 10th 1959. He would have been 47 this February. Unfortunately he passed away 10 years ago--but he lives in my heart."
Despite the unimaginable pain...Mary presses on.
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "I sit opposite of this [pictures on the wall] in my chair and I sit and giggle and remember the happy moments...that's why I like it so much."
Mary deserves a lot of credit...although modesty stops her from accepting it.
She thanks the community for its unending support.
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "And as I say there is nothing heroic about what I've done. I didn't choose it, it happened. I can't imagine not doing everything possible everyday."
Whatever It Takes…that's Mary's motto. She won't give up on her sons...and the 30-thousand other children and young adults with Cystic Fibrosis.
((Mary Weiss, Founder, Palm Beach County Cystic Fibrosis)) "I look forward to the day when Cystic Fibrosis will be relegated to the history books...but children and roses continue to bloom...that's my dream."
Again I want to stress that Mary says she couldn't have done anything without the community's support! One of the biggest fundraising events for C.F. happens on January 7th at the breakers. It is the 65 Roses Ball. Tickets are still available. Call the Foundation at 561-683-9965 for more information. Or to learn more about C.F. log onto www.cff.org
Cystic Fibrosis… it's often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed...so learn more about it.
