My daughter has cystic fibrosis. It is a serious disease which affects lung function, among other things and the current median survival rate is about 36 years old. My daughter is 5. Every year we raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by having a fishing tournament. It was publicized in the paper with my name and phone number if you want to participate or donate or whatever.
I received a call a couple of days ago. Apparently someone old read the article. I will paraphrase the conversation below:
Me: Hello
Old Lady: HANG ON! MY HUSBAND WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!
Me: OK
Old Man: Are you the one who's daughter have CF?
Me: Yes.
Old Man: What? I can't here you!
Me (louder): Yes, my daughter has CF.
Old Man: I can't hear you!
This goes on for two or three back and forths until I end up talking as loud as i can without screaming.
Old Man: What doctor does she go to?
Me: Children's Mercy in Kansas City.
Old Man: She doesn't go to Columbia?
Me: No, we live in Kansas City.
Old Man: I knew someone from Springfield who had CF that went to Columbia.
Me: We live in Kansas City.
Old Man: I have CF too!
Me: You do?
Old Man: Yes. I caught it years ago. I go to the VA hospital and they told me there is nothing they can do for it. There are 7 strains of CF and 4 of them are untreatable. I have one of the untreatable ones and there isn't any medicine for it.
Me: ...
Ok, at this point I know that if I say anything to the contrary of the "facts" he is saying, I will be in for a long phone call. You can't do that with old people because they will make you old listening to them go on and on. So I just agreed to a few more absolutely absurd things he said when he finally topped it off with this....
Old Man: I'm 90!!!
Me: Well it looks like you have learned how to beat it!
Old Man: I guess so. Thank you for the information about her doctor.
I knew he was old and I even held out some hope that he actually did have CF until he said this. Don't ever talk to old people that you don't know.
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