Azaylee’s Story: When a CF Hospital Stay Turns a Family’s Life Upside Down
When 10-year-old Azaylee was admitted to the hospital this winter, her mom Amy described it perfectly. She said, “CF is a disease that never takes a break. It truly never takes a break.” For many families, cystic fibrosis is a constant rhythm of breathing treatments, chest therapy, medications, feeding tubes and sometimes long hospital stays. It shapes every day and it shapes every decision.
For the Hickman family, this was their first major hospitalization. What they expected to be a hard two weeks quickly became one of the most overwhelming seasons of their lives.
According to her medical team at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, the admission was a shock to the family and left Azaylee anxious afterward. Amy had to take two weeks off work without pay, and the family was already trying to recover from previous financial strain. During this same time, their car broke down, her husband experienced identity theft, fraudulent taxes were filed in his name and their teenage son faced an emotional crisis. All of this while caring for a child with CF.
In her video, Amy shared how impossible it felt to explain the impact of CF on daily life. She said, “All of that just day to day can really become overwhelming to a family.” When a hospital stay hits on top of everything else, the pressure becomes immense.
During this difficult season, a hospital social worker told Amy about Claire’s Place Foundation. “It felt like in a moment where our daughter was struggling to breathe physically,” she said, “we could take a moment of breath for ourselves. We didn’t have to worry about how we were going to pay rent this month. We could just focus on our daughter and getting her healthy again.”
The grant covered their rent when they feared falling behind, allowing Amy to remain at her daughter’s bedside without fear of losing their home.
Why CF hospitalizations hit so hard
CF hospital stays create a sudden financial crisis for many families. Studies show that:
• A hospital stay for a child with CF can cost tens of thousands of dollars
• Parents often miss two to four weeks of work
• Annual CF care can exceed thousands of dollars even with insurance
• Families still face high deductibles, travel costs, food, parking and lost income
And none of this includes emotional costs or the stress placed on siblings and caregivers.
For the Hickmans, relief arrived at the exact moment they needed it.
What your support truly provides
Amy said something in her video that captures the heart of our mission. “You are not just helping families pay bills. You are giving families a sense of hope in a moment of crisis. You are showing them that they are not alone.”
That is what your generosity makes possible. You give families the ability to stay together during the scariest days of cystic fibrosis care. You make space for a parent to sit beside their child. You help keep a roof over their heads. You bring comfort when everything feels unsteady.
Azaylee is home now, healing and supported by a community that cares.
As we enter Giving Tuesday, we share her story as a reminder of why this program exists and why your support means so much.
CF emergencies do not follow a schedule. When a child is in the hospital, families need help right away. Thanks to donors like you, we can say yes in those moments.
Thank you for helping us lift burdens for parents like Amy and giving hope to children like Azaylee.
A full version of Amy’s video is included with this post.
Amy’s video below is a powerful reminder of how much your support truly matters to families living with cystic fibrosis.