Teachers with CF students

[kathienell]

This is my first time on this website. I'm a preschool teacher anticipating a 4 year old male student with CF. Your website has given me a lot of great information but I'm wondering if any of you with CF can think back to preschool days and give me some feedback on what I should pay close attention to, what physical situations may arise, etc. This is his first school experience and we want it to be so positive and good for him that he'll look forward to the rest of his schooling years with enthusiasm and a positive outlook. Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks! kathienell

 

[anonymous]

This link might be helpful to you:http://www.cff.org/living_with_cf/teachers_guide.cfmIt is a teachers guide posted by the cystic fibrosis foundation.The severity of CF varies from person to person. My son is 3 and 1/2 and will not likely require any special attention. He may have more absences than other students, but not necessarily. The only "special" requirement that I forsee is the need to take enzymes with his meals and snacks (most, but not all, CF patients take enzymes). Your student will likely require these enzymes - but how they are administered depends on your school policy. Enzymes are VERY important but they are harmless to other students. If there is any way you can make the process of giving enzymes easier on the student, then do so. I would not like to see my son have to go to the nurses office EVERY DAY (separating him from his peers and shortening his lunch time) just to take a simple pill. Your hands may be tied on this one.....Treat this student just like you treat all of your students. Do NOT single him out. If he needs to use the restroom - let him go, even if you just had a break (or you are just a few minutes away from taking one). Keep the communication lines open between you and his parents so that you can meet whatever needs he has. I hope that my son's teachers are as attentive as you are!Darlamom to Jared (3 with CF) and Lilly (5 mo. no CF)

 

[AbsintheSorrow]

A few things I'd look out for... is obviously, you'll get used to this with time, but don't ask if he's okay every time he coughs. He's liable to cough a lot. I'm trying to think here in reference to 4 year olds... I was going to say ask him secretly if he needs to use the bathroom because for CFers it can be embarassing, but I suppose 4 year olds wouldn't care much. Other than that, I guess my only piece of advice would be to treat him like all the other kids. Don't single him out or be over-protective (or over-clean) with only him, because that's not fair. (I assume I don't really need to tell you this stuff, becacuse it's obvious, but I'm just rambling).. And if there's a kid with a cold or whatever, don't feel the need to separate them. If it's not pneumonia, it won't kill him to get a cold. In fact, it will be good for his immune system. So basically, just don't single him out. I hate when people do that. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

I am a mom of a 4 yr old who is going to preschool in the Fall for the first time. I am not anticipating any problems but I worry that the teachers will forget her enzymes (it happened in the hospital right after she was diagnosed), or that she will be treated differently. I wouldn't remove them from anyone with a cold either, but I think proper hygiene should be encouraged in any situation where there are a lot of people. Things like reminding kids to wash their hands after the bathroom or before they eat is always good. Our preschool only allows fruits & veggies for snacks, which don't usually need enzymes, so that makes things easier.I would suggest talking to the parents because you may ease their mind as well. I am nervous about sending her off for the first time but would feel reassured if I knew that her teacher cared enough to look into it and get on a site like this one. They may put you in contact with their CF team that can give you any info you need. In Canada their are also pamphlets for teachers, which you can also download off their site www.cysticfibrosis.ca.I hope we are as fortunate with our preschool as this little boy is with you.Heather - Mom to Ashley

 

[Liza]

While I agree with the cold issue and not seperating them because kids will have colds. I would like to say however that some parents send their kids with horrible coughs. Since it is pre-school you are dealing with, most likely, I am guessing that this will be a three day class. Kids with coughs should not be in school. No, not the CF cough and not the every now and then cough, I"m talking about the sickly barking kind of cough that sometimes accompanies a cold. One thing that some teachers have a hard time enforcing is the use of a tissue and covering their mouth or nose then they cough or sneeze. Take advantage to teach those little ones to make it a habit, then to wash their hands. Some teachers say this is an interuption but I will say, my sister is a kindergarten teacher and has implemented this routine into her class from her first day of teaching, 13 yrs ago. So it can be done. As someone else has mentioned, talk with the parents. If it hasn't been set up already, set up a time to meet with them before school starts so you can meet them and the student and talk about CF and what they want. Open house or "meet the teacher" and the first day of school are not good days to get that done. Try to have them bring in the enzymes before the first day of school so you are ready, everyone will be anxious that day as it is, that way nothing will be forgotten in the emotion of the first day of school. Ask them what they would like you to look out for health wise and to let them know. For example my daughters teachers would notice if they had started coughing more than usual. They would call and mention it and ask if they had come down with something or were coming down with something. And most importantly, as with most four year olds anyway, let them go to the bathroom when they need not in a minute. Lastly, depending on where you live, climate wise, keeping hydrated is extremely important if you are in a hot place. We lived in AZ when my youngest was pre-school age. Kids with CF tend to lose more salt in their sweat than a child without CF making them more suseptable to dehydration. Kids with CF have a higher fat diet in most cases so saying that cookies or pudding is bad for you is not good. My girls hated it when the teachers would say they did not have a nutritious snack because they brought pudding. (I have to say that that was something I didn't think was important to include in our meeting and that was a place where a nutritional break was taken by all classes 1st -6th grade)You are such a wonderfully caring teacher to seek out the information for your new student and to get to know their disease. Liza