The Crosby Show: 65 Roses

Happy Valentines Day to the Fans of The Crosby Show!

Being that today is all about hearts, love, and roses, I think Valentines Day is a perfect day to share about what a rose symbolizes to us now. Roses use to mean romance and beauty. I'm right there with most gals who swoon a little over receiving roses from her guy. Remember the movie Bed of Roses? Christian Slater anyone? Please! I think Natalie and I pretty much had that entire movie memorized circa 1996!

But for thousands of patients with CF, a rose is the symbol of their daily struggle to breath. It's a symbol of their battle against the horrific disease that shadows their life.

"65 Roses" sounds a lot like "Cystic Fibrosis."

"65 Roses" is what many CF kids call their disease because the words are much easier for them to pronounce.

In 1965, a 4 year old boy named Richard Weiss, overheard his mother, Mary Weiss, who started the Palm Beach County chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation out of their Palm Beach home, making constant phone calls in an attempt to raise money and awareness for a disease few people had heard about in the 1960s.

Cystic Fibrosis sounded like 65 Roses to Richard. That innocent observation would go on to become the slogan and symbol for all those who suffer the devastating effects of CF.

Since 1965, the term "65 Roses" has been used by children of all ages to describe their disease. But, making it easier to say does not make CF any easier to live with. The "65 Roses" story has captured hearts and emotions.

The rose, appropriately the ancient symbol of love, has become a symbol of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. And the rose means so much more to us, than it did before.