GREAT STRIDES DAUGHTER, MOM WILL WALK FOR CF.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Kristina De Bree is studying business in preparation for her real dream job - opening a private high school for people like her.

``It will have regular academic classes, but there will be other classes in learning how to deal with being sick, family problems, almost like therapy,'' De Bree said Thursday.

De Bree was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was born. Now 19, the 2004 Valencia High School graduate wants to make life easier for students dealing with illness and give them tools to help cope with their differences.

``One of the biggest challenges for me was the social aspect,'' she said. ``I've been on Prednizone for a long time and I look very young. I'm only 4 foot 9 and look like a little kid. People would make fun of me at school, but I learned how to deal with it. People only do that to other people because they're insecure about themselves.''

Kristina and her mother, Teresa, will be walking Sunday morning in the fifth annual Great Strides walk, a national fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In the past four years, the Santa Clarita Valley walk has raised $250,000 for research and education and involved more than 250 walkers every year. The pair was instrumental in bringing the walk to northern Los Angeles County.

Cystic fibrosis causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus that makes breathing and digestion difficult. Half of all cystic fibrosis patients die before they reach age 31 and there is no known cure.

Kristina's everyday routine not only includes going to school or stopping by Starbucks, but also breathing treatments, physical therapy, weekly blood checks and taking an array of medicines to allay gastrointestinal and sinus problems.

``She's a typical teenager and wants to burn the candle at both ends,'' said her mother, Teresa. ``Unfortunately, that means she can catch something from people she's exposed to, especially since everybody is usually sick in the winter.

``It's definitely challenging. Initially, I was depressed. I got thrown into a world of nursing I knew nothing about. We just went forward and she got stronger. She's definitely my inspiration.''

Teresa and her husband have two other children, sons James, 16, and Kevin, 14, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But neither has CF, which is passed by both parents, who must carry the gene.

``I have a handful,'' she said. ``You either sink or swim. I choose to swim.''

``She's really happy I'm all grown up,'' said Kristina, laughing. ``But my whole life was spent growing up in hospitals. CF kids die from infections they catch from people around them; they're not supposed to associate with other CF kids because of the bacteria in their lungs. The doctors wanted me to be home, so my mom learned everything she needed to know about it.''

When Kristina was in seventh grade, Teresa decided to go to College of the Canyons to get her associate's degree and further her education in health care. She graduates from the nursing program in three weeks.

``Helping Kristina definitely helped me in class, having given her home IV treatments and dealing with all her physical care,'' Teresa said. ``I'll work in a hospital setting for awhile, giving general patient care, then I might specialize.''

In the meantime, Teresa and Kristina are recruiting many of their fellow students to participate in this year's Great Strides walk, which starts at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the fountain of the Westfield Valencia Town Center and follows a route around the center grounds.

Walkers may register in advance at www.cff.org/great-strides or on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Those wishing to make a donation may mail a check to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6420 Wilshire Blvd., First Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90048. Note on the check that the donation is for the Valencia walk. Those wishing to be corporate sponsors should call Rebecca Gorban, director of special events, at [phone].

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Kristina De Bree, who has cystic fibrosis, dreams of someday starting a private high school for teens with chronic diseases.

(2) Nineteen-year-old Kristina De Bree of Valencia, who was born with cystic fibrosis, will participate with her mom this weekend in the Great Strides fundraising walk.

David Crane/Staff Photographer