Sharing Jamie's World: The Life and Love of a Child with Cystic Fibrosis

By Joe C. Thompson

Sharing Jamie’s World is the valiant story of the fifteen-year life of a cystic fibrosis victim, Jamie Thompson, told by his father. It is also the story of how his illness and his fight against it drew his whole family together in their ardent desire to help him in his courageous battle against this affliction. The remarkable patience of his parents and brother is fortified by their enduring faith in God and close friends.

One admirable aspect of the story of the Thompsons is their completely unselfish attitude toward other cystic fibrosis victims. Jamie’s father not only tried to cheer them up but, on occasion, brought them home with him and sometimes served as a much-needed taxi for them when their families were unable to drive them.

Jamie himself was an outgoing boy with an extraordinary knack for making friends and keeping them. He tried to participate in school activities and sports as often as the increasingly debilitating disease would allow him to.

In his introduction to a book that must have saddened him as he writes, Mr. Thompson gives his reasons for writing this account of Jamie’s life and death.

“A communication must be formed and developed between physicians, parents, the cystic fibrosis child and God, this being done to help the child fight this malignant-type illness.

“This writing will let you know how our son and brother, Jamie, fought, how he taught many other patients, helped and encouraged them, with his bright outlook on life, how the life of a cystic fibrosis child, as well as the family and those involved in the fight to eliminate or control this dreaded disease, must be. We know that without God and our faith, our lives would have lost meaning and purpose.

“I love Jamie today, as much as when he were still here, and my wife and son Joe feel likewise. In my mind the knowledge that Jamie is gone from this earth is not unbearable, but there is an empty feeling that can never be replaced.”

Everyone who has or knows a child (or adult) with a fatal disease should read this amazing account of Jamie’s life; it will serve as an inspiration to all those who follow Jamie’s struggle during his brief lifetime to enjoy what little he could, with the help given him by his family and his numerous friends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fideli Publishing
• Release date: May 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781604143713

Joe C. Thompson

Sharing Jamie's World is the valiant story of the fifteen-year life of cystic fibrosis victim, Jamie Thompson, told by his father. It is also the story of how his illness and his fight against it drew his whole family together in their ardent desire to help him in his courageous battle against this affliction. The remarkable patience of his parents and brother is fortified by their enduring faith in God and close friends. About the Author: Joe C. Thompson was born in Indiana and grew up there. After he finished high school, where he played sports, he took several sales seminars and a Dale Carnegie course. He worked in factories after school and has been an insurance salesman for forty-five years. He was active in community affairs and is a member of the Optimists Club, and has worked with the Girls' Softball League and Mooresville Men's Tennis League. On several occasions, he has spoken on salesmanship and cystic fibrosis. Sharing Jamie's World is his first published book, the true story of his third son's courageous fight to survive cystic fibrosis. Mr. Thompson still lives in Indiana with Wanda, his wife of forty-seven years. They have a son, Joe Jr.

Book preview

Sharing Jamie’s World

By Joe C. Thompson

Smashwords ebook published by Fideli Publishing Inc.

© Copyright 2011, Joe C. Thompson

No part of this eBook may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Fideli Publishing.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ISBN: 978-1-60414-371-3

Contents

About the Author

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Letter to Jamie

Epilogue

About the Author

Joe C. Thompson was born in Indiana and grew up there. After he finished high school, where he played sports, he took several sales seminars and a Dale Carnegie course. He worked in factories after school and has now been as insurance salesman for forty-five years. He was been active in community affairs, is a member of the Optimists Club and has worked with the Girls’ Softball League and Mooresville Men's Tennis League. On several occasions, he has spoken on salesmanship and cystic fibrosis. He has raised money for the local Cystic Fibrosis Chapter and for the national foundation. He is an active member of the church of Christ. Sharing Jamie’s World is his first published book, the true story of his third son’s courageous fight to survive cystic fibrosis.

Mr. Thompson still lives in Indiana with Wanda, his wife of forty-seven years. They have a son, Joe Jr.

Sharing Jamie’s World is the valiant story of the fifteen-year life of a cystic fibrosis victim, Jamie Thompson, told by his father. It is also the story of how his illness and his fight against it drew his whole family together in their ardent desire to help him in his courageous battle against this affliction. The remarkable patience of his parents and brother is fortified by their enduring faith in God and close friends.

One admirable aspect of the story of the Thompsons is their completely unselfish attitude toward other cystic fibrosis victims. Jamie’s father not only tried to cheer them up but, on occasion, brought them home with him and sometimes served as a much-needed taxi for them when their families were unable to drive them.

Jamie himself was an outgoing boy with an extraordinary knack for making friends and keeping them. He tried to participate in school activities and sports as often as the increasingly debilitating disease would allow him to.

In his introduction to a book that must have saddened him as he writes, Mr. Thompson gives his reasons for writing this account of Jamie’s life and death.

"A communication must be formed and developed between physicians, parents, the cystic fibrosis child and God, this being done to help the child fight this malignant-type illness.

"This writing will let you know how our son and brother, Jamie, fought, how he taught many other patients, helped and encouraged them, with his bright outlook on life, how the life of a cystic fibrosis child, as well as the family and those involved in the fight to eliminate or control this dreaded disease, must be. We know that without God and our faith, our lives would have lost meaning and purpose.

I love Jamie today, as much as when he were still here, and my wife and son Joe feel likewise. In my mind the knowledge that Jamie is gone from this earth is not unbearable, but there is an empty feeling that can never be replaced.

Everyone who has or knows a child (or adult) with a fatal disease should read this amazing account of Jamie’s life; it will serve as an inspiration to all those who follow Jamie’s struggle during his brief lifetime to enjoy what little he could, with the help given him by his family and his numerous friends.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Jamie’s older brother, Joe Thompson, Jr.

Introduction

I wish this book to be a memorial in Christian love to our son and brother, Jamie Lee Thompson, a cystic fibrosis child.

Jamie was born September 3, 1963, and was taken by God to paradise to await his place in Heaven on January 10, 1979 after a lifetime fight of over fifteen years.

I also wish to thank the many cystic fibrosis children, their parents, doctors, researchers, nurses, aides, respiratory therapists, friends and all who were involved in the care and love of our son Jamie and in our goal to conquer cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a fatal illness, a generalized disorder affecting the excorine glands within the lungs and digestive system. In patients these glands secrete to outer surfaces, not inward to the bloodstream or lymph area which is normal, causing the mucus, saliva and sweat produced by the excorine glands to have a chemical and physical abnormality. The cause is unknown.

Sweat of cystic fibrosis patients has an exceptionally high salt content, and this is the basis for reliable diagnosis. Cystic fibrosis patients have unusually thick and sticky mucus in their lungs and digestive system. The plugging of the ducts of the pancreas by mucus is a problem. Respiratory, heart, and other parts of the body are affected as the patient becomes older.

Cystic fibrosis is passed on in families by genes, the units of heredity in the cells. Research is striving to find a solution to this problem and may soon have a valid test to show if a person is a potential carrier of this gene.

There is no known cure for cystic fibrosis and it has conquered the lives of many children and young adults. When it is detected in early infancy, doctors, with the help of the research field, try to find the best medical and dietary needs for the cystic child. At this time a communication must be formed and developed between physicians, parents, the cystic child, this being done to help the child fight this malignant-type illness.

This writing will let you know how our son and brother, Jamie, fought, how he taught many other cystics, helped and encouraged them with his bright outlook on life, how the life of a cystic child, as well as the family and those involved in the fight to eliminate or control this dread disease, must be. We know that without God and our