James D. Binegar (20/07/70-16/11/05)

James passed away on the 16th of November 2005, at the age of 35. James was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) when he was 3 years old. Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic, progressive and frequently fatal disease of the mucus glands. It is a genetic disease that affects more than 30,000 people in the United States, 20,000 in Europe and many more thousands around the world. A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally thick, sticky mucus. This abnormal mucus can and does lead to chronic and life threatening lung infections and also impair digestion. The sweat glands and reproductive system are also usually involved. On average, patients with Cystic Fibrosis have a life span of approximately 32 years currently.

James had worked hard to fight his battle with CF, unfortunately without luck. He graduated from high school in 1988 and attended some college. He had worked in fast food as a teenager, he was a ceramic tile setter, a car salesmen, bed and furniture sales, a master picture framer and artist.

Although James had not been able to work for quite some time, he had not let time pass him by. He had created several websites to share information, support, and encouragement to other people with CF, their families and friends. He was truly an inspiration to all who know him. He always had a smile on his face and never complains. He will be surely missed...

In the end, James's health had been declining. His lung functions had been getting lower and he was often on oxygen 24 hours a day. He had a feeding tube to help him with his nutrition needs and had to take insulin to control CF related diabetes. Most of the time he spent in his room because he didn't have the energy to do the things he once did. In october he received a lung transplant hoping that that would be the end of his problems. Unfortunatly complications arose...
Although James was disabled and on Medicare, there are many medical expenses not covered pre and post transplant. He and his family had been told to begin fund-raising to help with the medical costs and temporary housing expenses there will be before and after surgery.

He had set up a formal transplant website and online journal where all of his information, updates and donation methods were listed as well. To find out more about CF and James' life, please visit his website at http://azcowboy88.tripod.com/ [D]

This page has met or exceeded UWSAG Validation Standards