Dear Peer with CF:

If you have cystic fibrosis (CF), we’re so glad you are visiting this website! Some of you may relate to our stories about living with CF in the last 40 years that are depicted in our film. For example, there is archival video footage from over 20 years ago showing the old days of CF camp. As you know, CF camps no longer exist anymore due to concerns surrounding cross infection. As a person with CF, you’re probably already informed about the risks of cross infection when people with CF are exposed to the respiratory droplets from other people with CF.

We both, together with the entire ‘The Power Of Two’ (TPOT) production team, wish to make our movie screenings as safe as possible for all people with CF.

Masks and hand gel will be provided at every community screening where TPOT team members are present. Please look out for these items (and the signs locating them) when you attend, and if you have CF, please wear a mask for the safety of others with CF in the audience. We ask that you sit at least 3-5 seats away from others who are wearing a mask. You will notice, when you do watch the film, that during the film shoots, we do not touch our friends with CF, and we make sure to sit several feet away from each other. What’s not shown is that we make sure to ask each other about our respiratory cultures to protect each other from dangerous bacteria.

For our safety and yours, we are following the infection control guidelines recommended by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and ask that if you have ever cultured Burkholderia cepacia in your sputum, please do not attend our movie screenings. In addition, because of the presence of transplant patients at our screenings, we ask that if you have cultured Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in your lungs in the last 2 years, please do not attend either.

If you are unable to join us, please sign up for our e-mailing list (see the gray box in the right hand column >>) and we will let you know as soon as the DVD is available to the public! We regret that you are unable to attend, but it’s the responsible thing to do for us and for you. Thank you for your understanding.

These cross infection concerns ONLY apply to those who have cystic fibrosis. Those with healthy lungs and healthy immune systems do not need to be concerned about catching any infection from people with CF.

For everyone reading this, for obvious reasons, please refrain from attending the movie screenings if you have a viral infection, flu, cold, or are coughing in a manner different than your CF baseline.

Thank you, and we are very grateful for your interest in “The Power Of Two!” May our story reflect parts of your story with CF, so you may feel connected to those who share your journey with CF.

With love, Isa and Ana

Isabel Stenzel Byrnes (left), Anabel Stenzel (right), CF Patients & Advocates