(Front Row) Stephen and Joan Holesko are joined by Dr. Drucy Borowitz (center) and her team in the Cystic Fibrosis Center

To honor the memory of their son who had Cystic Fibrosis (CF), Stephen and Joan Holesko have once again contributed to the Stephen P. Holesko Fund, which they established in 2008 to support the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Women & Children’s Hospital.

"The many people who knew Stephen were touched by his positive attitude, courage, humor, and will to live," said Drucy Borowitz, MD, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and Chief, Pediatric Pulmonology, Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo.

The Stephen P. Holesko Fund is intended to help working families who are struggling to cover expenses for all of the extras that add up when you have a child with a chronic illness such as CF.  In addition supporting this fund, the Holesko’s continue to volunteer their time at Women & Children’s Hospital. 

The Cystic Fibrosis Center at the Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo was one of the first of the 118 nationally-accredited CF Centers in the United States.  Its purposes include:

• To provide exemplary family-centered care to our patients that promotes wellness and quality of life

• To participate in research to improve care and treatment

• To educate patients, families, the medical community and the general public

CF is a life-limiting disease, although the outlook has dramatically improved, according to Dr. Borowitz.  The success of multidisciplinary care at the CF Center is reflected in its clinical outcomes, which are among the best in the country (posted at cff.org).  The CF Center provides care throughout the lifespan and includes a Pediatric program and an Adult Program

The CF Center has participated in close to 50 clinical trials and we have been instrumental in bringing new treatments to the clinical realm.  Its Parent-Patient Advisory Council has helped in the re-design of patient care.  If you have more questions about our CF Center, please call (716) 878-7524.

Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, a Kaleida Health facility and teaching hospital for the University at Buffalo School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, is the regional center for specialized pediatric, perinatal and obstetrical services in Western New York and beyond.