Mutton bustin’ dream comes true

Wendi Tashlikowich    

Times Contributor   

 

No new parent wants to hear that something is wrong with their child and that they must stay in the hospital, but that’s what happened with the Andersen family six years ago.

When Chase Andersen was born he spent the first two and a half months of his life in the Alberta Children’s Hospital.  He was born with a twisted bowel and had to have 42 centimeters removed. 

The doctors proceeded to put Chase on fats and proteins to help him gain weight because he was so tiny. His body could not digest these foods and he was not gaining weight. His health began to decline rapidly.  At 11 months old he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. The disease was not allowing the pancreatic enzymes that are required to digest protein out of the pancreas because of a thick mucus plug that blocks this process.  

At six-years-old Chase takes 30 pills a day, pancreatic enzymes every time he eats. He has physiotherapy twice a day, he goes to the hospital for a shot once a month that help with his lung allergies, and uses a nebulizer once a day which helps to break up the mucus in his lungs. 

Recently Chase developed a bacterial/fungus infection in his lungs that he is deathly allergic to. Most people can breathe this bacteria in and expel it, but for Chase it gets stuck in the mucus in his lungs. This is the sixth time he has been hospitalized with this fungus. The Andersen family was given the news that Chase would have to spend two weeks of his summer vacation in the hospital receiving antibiotics through a pic line.  

The doctors promised he would be out in time to participate in this year’s Strathmore Stampede mutton bustin’ event. Two days before his mutton bustin’ debut Chase was given the green light and he was released just in time.  

This was Chase’s first year competing and his favorite part was the sheep.  “Thank you sir, your sheep was really nice,” said Chase to the owner of his mutton. He was then rewarded with a tour of the sheep pen.  

He also got his picture taken with the beautiful Rodeo Queen Becca Walters. High Speed Chase, as he is known at the hospital and CF clinic, has no intention of letting his diagnosis get the best of him. 

“If anyone can beat the statistics, this little man can” explains Chase’s mother Brandy Andersen. Cystic Fibrosis is a disease of the lungs that people are born with. It is an autoimmune disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, liver and intestine. Currently 4,000 people in Canada have this complicated and high maintenance disease.