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Dalton Prager , a immature man who received national attention because both he and his wife had cystic fibrosis , died this weekend of the disease at years 25 . But why does cystic fibrosis shorten life ?

Prager met his wife , Katie , online when the two were 18 - year - old , according to CNN . Because they both had cystic fibrosis , they were warned against ever assemble in person , since two people with the condition can unfold bacteria to each other , which can result in life - imperil infections .

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But the yoke met anyway , and had a five - year marriage before Dalton ’s last on Saturday ( Sept. 17 ) , CNN sound out . Katie is currently get hospice care forcystic fibrosisat her family in Kentucky . The couple ’s story has been compare to the novel " The Fault in Our Stars " by John Green ( Dutton Books , 2012 ) , which order the story of two teens with terminal genus Cancer who get together and fall in love . [ 10 Celebrities with Chronic Illnesses ]

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition in which the body produce abnormally thick mucous secretion , which progress up in the lungs , pancreas and digestive piece of land . As a answer , the status causes breathing and digestive problems , harmonise to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ( CFF ) .

Excessive mucus in the lungs creates an ideal position for bacteria to flourish and multiply , the CFF says . This means that affected role with cystic fibrosis are at high risk for lung infections , often from bacteria that do n’t typically induce symptoms in healthy people . In improver , the body’simmune system ’s reaction to these infection solvent in ignition that can lead to even more lung damage . As a solvent , lung infection can be dangerous for cystic fibrosis patients , and over time , conduct to worsening lung wellness and death , the CFF says .

lung health

Extra mucus in the pancreas can also block the loss of enzymes that are important for digestion , which prevents patients from absorbing vital nutrient from the food they eat , and can leave in malnutrition , the CFF says .

advance intreatments for cystic fibrosishave greatly increase living expectancy for people with the disease , but it remains a lifetime - shortening illness . In the 1950s , children with the condition often did not subsist long enough to attend unproblematic school , whereas those give birth in 2010 are externalize to have a living expectancy of 39 age , according to a 2014 paper . More than 30,000 people in the U.S. are living with cycstic fibrosis , accord to the CFF .

Before Dalton and Katie met , Dalton was infected withBurkholderia cepacia , a bacterium that can cause unsafe lung infections in hoi polloi with cystic fibrosis . Katie did not have the contagion , but screw that meet Dalton would put her at high risk for concentrate the bacterium , according to CNN . Indeed , the CFF advocate that two mass with cystic fibrosis should be kept a minimum of 6 feet ( 2 beat ) asunder because of the risk of hybridization - contagion between people with the disease . Katie did eventually contract the bacteria from Dalton , but told CNN that she had no regrets .

photo of two circular petri dishes with colonies of mycobacterium tuberculosis growing on them

" It gave me some of the good long time of my life , " Katie was quoted as pronounce . " I ’d rather have five years of being in making love and just really completely happy than 20 old age of not having anybody . "

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