July 13, 2010
Singing Sisters and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) on America’s Got Talent
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I’ve made it quite clear in the comments that I’ve finally found my favorite act for this season: the Singing Sisters. I’ll happily admit that I’m completely biased in this case. For some reason, I really like blonde girl singers (see Jessica Price and Julienne Irwin), but I love Christina and Ali’s determination and perseverance more than anything. The beauty of America’s Got Talent is that you can vote for whoever you want (at least now that we’re to Hollywood).
Let me just help you understand a little more about cystic fibrosis (CF) and my personal experience with a friend who has CF. Then, maybe you’ll understand my personal emotional connection with Christina and Ali’s performance on America’s Got Talent. Plus, hopefully you’ll have a greater appreciation for what Christina and Ali are able to accomplish.
A short description about Cystic Fibrosis:
The average life expectancy for those with CF is mid-30s, and only 47 percent survive to reach 18 years or older. Sticky mucus builds up in the lung, blocking the airways and making the child prone to many life-threatening infections. It also affects the pancreas, causing the CF sufferer to not properly digest her food.
My friend with cystic fibrosis is 56. He’s literally a walking miracle and a complete inspiration. As his neighbor and friend I would go over to his house regularly to give him what he called percussion therapy. That’s just a nice term for me going over and basically “beating” him for 30 minutes to an hour.
I’m not exaggerating. I would cup my hands and pound his chest, sides, and back (if I remember right) in three different positions. I guess the pounding helps to dislodge the mucus that builds up in the lungs that isn’t dislodged since he’s missing a chemical that the rest of us have. In one position, he would literally hang upside down off the couch and I would pound his sides while he clenched his teeth.
At one point he said, “Do you know why I do this one?” I said, “Why? He replied, “Cause all my friends that refused to do them, aren’t here anymore.” After “beating” him like this, my hands would literally hurt.
Just describing this on here, I can barely imagine Christina and Ali having to go through this type of therapy. Add in them singing with the lung problems that Cystic Fibrosis causes and their absolutely an inspiration for me.
I saw these girls first perform when I got to go and see the Las Vegas auditions taped live. Their audition performance hadn’t aired yet and so I didn’t know their story. However, when I watched Christina and Ali perform in Las Vegas I admit that my eyes welled up with tears. The same thing happened when I saw their audition. It’s too bad you didn’t get to see their full Las Vegas performance.
Certainly Christina and Ali aren’t the most talented singers that have ever graced the America’s Got Talent stage (Julienne Irwin probably wins that award for me). However, the talent they’ve shown overcoming their challenges is what makes them my favorite act on America’s Got Talent season 5.
Best of luck Singing Sisters!
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10 responses to "Singing Sisters and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) on America’s Got Talent"
I remember reading a book about a girl with CF “Alex: The Life of a Child”. When she was little and her parents did percussion thearapy, she cried “please not the down ones, daddy”. Yet she managed to still be the happy child most of the time. She heard La Traviata on TV (this was back in the 80s), and stood in front of the mirror “singing”. Her parents would ask her – “but you don’t know the words” and she’d say “but I am having such a great time imaginating”. She died very young.
It’s so sad for parents to have both children with CF. Normally (based on this book), when both parents turned out to be the carriers of this gene, there is 25% chance of a child having CF, 50% chance of a child having bad copy of this gene which is not a problem as long as the child doesn’t fall in love with and marries someone with the same mutation, and 25% of a child not having either the disease or the mutation. So it’s 25% chance of having a sick child, and these girls parents got both kids with the same disease… Very sad.
“please not the down ones, daddy”
Gall…that stuff breaks my heart. I can’t imagine.
I just want to let Christina and Ali know what and inspiration they are to myself and my family. I and my husband have a son with cystic fibrosis we also have 4 other children that do not have cf. my son name is Matthew he is 19 years old So every time i see these girls my eyes get all teary I know as a parent with a child of cf what they are going through so Christine and Ali you girls go for your dreams and GOD BLESS YOU BOTH AND YOUR FAMILY,
SINCERELY;
THE FEDERICO FAMILY
Thanks for sharing Tina. I wish you the best of luck with your son. I agree completely that Christina and Ali are an absolute INSPIRATION!
I hope they’ll stop by this site once the craziness that is being on America’s Got Talent is over.
They are the ONLY reason to watch the show this season. I’ve loved them since their audition and they are the only ones I am interested in. They are true beauty from within and I want them to win hands down.
Hi everyone,
I wish the sister luck in their performance. I am a little concerned though for their well being. Performing can bee a real strain on a person in good health so imagine how it can be on someone who is ill. Also, the jerks out there who write trash about people and how hurtful that can be. I hope they are up to it both mentally and physically. I hope their parents do not let them read the rag papers that say mean things about everyone. If they do I pray they do not take it to heart. They are beautiful girls and deserve good things to happen to then in what will probably be a short life time. Their parents should be commended in raising such wonderful girls. It is apparent that they have done a marvelous job of teaching them to take a risk and not feel sorry for themselves. No matter what happens in the competition I have a good feeling that we will not hear the last of them in AGT. GOOD LUCK GIRLS, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP HIGH, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME. ISHKAMARIE@AOL.COM
[...] you’ve been reading Pure America’s Got Talent this season, then you know I’ve already displayed my bias for Christina and Ali front and center. I don’t shy away from the fact that I have biases. I embrace them and enjoy [...]
Thank you for the insight. Having chronic pain myself seeing them up there is pretty amazing. Seeing them go that far, and have such an experience is phenomenal.
I hope that like them, Howie Mandel, and Connor Dorian, I can overcome my hurdles to do something great.
David,
I’m glad to hear that they’ve been an inspiration. Go for it and live your dream. You’ll never regret trying!
[...] told her a bit about my friend who has cystic fibrosis and giving him percussion therapy. She said yeah, that her dad did that for them also. Honestly, I didn’t want to dive into [...]