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Valrico youngsters to give a 5-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis a birthday to remember

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"I like playing on that slide,” said Christopher Carmen.
 
When you are five, going on six, making friends should be simple.
 
"Well, I'd like them to help me and play games with me,” he explained.
 
But this soon to be six year old who likes sharks, science and spiky hair is having a hard time with friendships.
 
"I didn't go to school 'cause I was sick,” he said.
 
Christopher Carmen had to drop out of kindergarten.
 
By Thanksgiving, his mom says Christopher had already missed more than 60 days of school because he has cystic fibrosis.
 
"It's an invisible disease. You can't see it from the outside. It's damaging everything on the inside,” said Trish Duffy.
 
The disease affects his organs and immune system making 14 medications a day a must.
 
"He said kids won't come near me and I know it's hard to explain to another 5 or 6 year old why he's coughing all the time,” said his mom.
 
But a group of Valrico youngsters wants Christopher to feel like everybody else on his birthday-- a birthday they are making sure is full of friends.
 
"Well just gotta do like stuff with him, like play games, and introduce him to everybody and have fun,” said Valrico Rams quarterback Marcus Miguele.
 
The Valrico rams, a Pop Warner football team, is opening up their field and their hearts.
 
"Let's try and host the party here, give them plenty of space, plenty of room to give this kid the best birthday he's ever had. That's what we're striving for and that hopefully makes us good role models to these kids,” said Coach John Cleckler.
 
Christopher will celebrate here on August 7th with who knows how many friends.
 
"The outpouring of love in the community. I don't even know. Thank you is not enough to say,” said his mom.
 
And he is practicing.
 

"Hi, my name is Christopher,” he said smiling.

If you would like to send Christopher a birthday card, his birthday is August 7th. The address is:
Christopher Carmen Jr
P.O. Box 1124
Valrico FL 33595