Karen Vega, 30 years old with cystic fibrosis, discusses her pregnancy with CF and the joy of having twin boys.
Karen and her husband, Alex, have two-year-old twin boys, Jayden and Logan. In this podcast, Karen describes the medical concerns she faced and the treatments she undertook for her successful pregnancy.
Karen is LIVING, BREATHING and SUCCEEDING with a beautiful family!
A little more than a decade ago, marriage and starting a family seemed to be an unthinkable dream for people with CF. Through advancements in treatment of the disease and being compliant, the dream became a reality for Karen and her husband.
• Karen grew up in New York, was diagnosed with CF at eight months and also has a brother with CF.
• Karen attended Fordham University, worked on Wall Street for six years, and now is a stay-at-home mom.
• “My doctor was very supportive and recommended my FEV’s be above 70 percent before deciding to start a family,” Karen says.
• “One medical concern with a CF pregnancy is that sometimes people develop diabetes (CFRD),” she explains.
• Karen saw a high-risk OB, and she also saw the doctors every two months instead of three months.
• “You must establish a routine to balance family and health, and it’s important to have a good support team,” Karen says. “My mom moved in to assist me after I gave birth to Jayden and Logan.”
• “The biggest challenge I face being a mom is time management,” Karen says. “I started jogging, and the exercise has been a major factor in keeping me healthy and a good way to get out with my two beautiful boys in the stroller.”
This “LIVING. BREATHING. SUCCEEDING.” Podcast/Vodcast is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Genentech to the Boomer Esiason Foundation.
