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Staff writer

Second-grader Jeffrey Steffensen misses many days of school at Adams Elementary, School, Coon Rapids.

It’s not the common cold or chicken pox or family vacations that keep him home from school – in fact, Jeffrey and his four brothers and sisters and mom and dad have never had a family vacation.

No, Jeffrey’s days away from school are something no child would ever choose, something no child should ever have to endure.

You see, back in February 2007, doctors diagnosed the seven-year old with cystic fibrosis.

And that means he’s got to have regular “tune-ups,” Jeffrey says, his impish grin betraying the discomfort involved in those treatment sessions.

The tune-ups have Jeffrey wearing a vibrating vest delivering chest compressions while he inhales antibiotics and other medications through a nebulizer.

“It feels like I’m a dog shaking off after he gets out of the lake,” Jeffrey said, grinning again as he gives a playful description of what it feels like to wear the vibrating vest.

Each tune-up session lasts between 30 and 45 minutes – and he’s got to have four of those sessions each day while in tune-up mode.

So, during tune-up season, sitting at his desk in Mrs. Olson’s classroom at Adams Elementary is out of the question.

Thanks to the Make a Wish Foundation, Jeffrey was able to escape the vibrating vest, the nebulizer, the doctors and the discomfort for six straight days.

That was when he and his family – all seven of them – enjoyed their first-ever family vacation in September.

“We got to go to Disney World! All of us!” Jeffrey said, bouncing on a dining room chair and laughing at the carefree memories as his mom described the family’s Disney World adventure.

“We stayed in the Give Kids the World village at Disney World and they treated us like royalty. Everyday was like Christmas,” said Jeffrey’s mom, Shanna.

“Nothing cost us a dime. We ate at the gingerbread table, we had pizza and ice cream every day, the kids got presents, they could swim in the pool, play in the game room...he just loved it there.”

“We had to talk him into leaving the village to go to Disney World. He was having so much fun there he didn’t want to leave.”

But Make a Wish gave the Steffensens tickets to Disney World, too, and away they went.

“We did everything you could ever do in the five days we were there,” Shanna said.

“We got to go to Gatorland, Epcot Center, Universal Studios, Animal Kingdom, Sea World – everything.

“And we never had to wait in line. When they saw Jeffrey’s Give Kids the World button we all got in just like that.”

Little Jeffrey, a science nut, said his favorite part of the trip was “hunting for lizards at Gatorland.”

Yes, Jeffrey thrilled at the lizard hunting expedition. It fit right in with his savvy for the sciences and his fascination for reptiles.

Steffensen family pets have, over the years, included frogs, snakes, salamanders and lizards.

“We had bearded dragons, too,” Jeffrey said, eager to include each and every reptile on the family pet list.

“Yes, we had two bearded dragons but we had to give them up because the doctor said there was too much risk of you catching salmonella,” Shanna said, nodding toward her little boy as she described one of many sacrifices Jeffrey has had to make in order to address his cystic fibrosis.

But none of that seems to quench Jeffrey’s spirit.

Amy Carroll, Adams Elementary School social worker who nominated Jeffrey for the Make a Wish trip to Disney World, describes the seven-year old’s personality.

“When I met Jeffrey two years ago, I was so impressed by his attitude and resilient spirit,” said Carroll.

“He is a kid who always has a smile on his face, and he doesn’t let his cystic fibrosis get in the way of being a typical second grader.”

“Last year, he even presented to his class about his disease and was proud to answer all their questions.”

Knowing his family could use a break from the treatments, the bills, the doctor’s appointments and the restrictions imposed on them, Carroll put his name in for a wish come true.

“I nominated (Jeffrey) because the Make a Wish organization does a fantastic job at making wishes come true, and I knew they would help create a memory that would have a long-lasting positive impact on Jeffrey,” Carroll said.

“When Jeffrey chose Disney World, I was thrilled that his whole family could join him.

“This disease affects the whole family and so I was very grateful that the rest of his family got to enjoy his wish, too,” she said.

Jeffrey’s cystic fibrosis affects his entire family, to be sure.

The time involved in fighting the disease isn’t the only sacrifice the family has made.

The expense takes its toll, too.

You see, Jeffrey was diagnosed in February 2007 and his dad’s insurance kicked in March 1, 2007.

“The insurance wouldn’t cover anything,” Shanna said.

The company considered Jeffrey’s cystic fibrosis to be a pre-existing condition, she said.

“The vibrating vest alone cost us $16,000 and with medications and doctor’s appointments and everything, we’re like $3 million in bills up the wazoo,” she said.

To help relieve those medical bills, a Jeffrey Steffensen fund has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank.

“Anyone can go into any Wells Fargo Bank and ask about the Jeffrey Steffensen fund if they want to make a donation,” Shanna said.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey is ready to take on the world and do whatever it takes to beat his disease.

“He’s just such a strong little guy. He’s got to take nine or 10 meds every day, get his blood drawn, wear the vibrating vest...but he just sits and lets them do it. He’s a strong little guy,” said Jeffrey’s mom, playfully punching her little boy as he explored the contents of the Steffensen family’s Make a Wish folder.

“That was the best vacation ever, wasn’t it, Mom,” Jeffrey said, his blue eyes twinkling with memories of his wish come true.

Sue Austreng is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it