Dad with CF beats infertility, hits a double

Of course, raising children can be fraught with anxiety for any parent. But doing so while dealing with the physical and emotional complexities of a genetic disease like CF brings some unique challenges to the CF adult. "There has been an amazing shift in the demographic," says Marshall. "Nearly half the CF population are now adults. So it is not just a pediatric disease anymore. CF patients are doctors, firefighters and, as in Brad's case, softball players."

"Parent" is a small but growing category of the CF population. "We encourage our adult CF patients who are planning a family to have extensive support networks," says Marshall.

All in the family
The Hildebrandt's support network includes Brad's older sister Debra, who also has CF, and who at 48 is leading the family charge in defying the disease's statistical odds.

Debra, whose children are older than Brad's, also served as an inspiration for her younger brother. "When Pam and I were married, my sister already had one child. I thought 'If she can do it, why can't I?'"

Debra's experience was somewhat different. Adult women with CF have a thicker cervical mucus, generally making conception much more difficult.

"My doctor told me it would be very, very difficult for me to get pregnant, and if I did, even harder to carry the baby to term. And he warned me that my own health could be at risk."

Married in 1989 to her husband Peter, Debra did indeed get pregnant — on her honeymoon. Her doctor was more than a little surprised, as were some of Debra's peers. "Two other CF girls called me and asked me how I managed to get pregnant," Debra recalled.

Interactive Baby-making by the numbers Stats on women in the workplace, the rate of assisted reproduction, numbers of twins and triplets, and much more.

"I kidded with them and told them 'You can't borrow my husband.'" Not everyone wanted to follow her example, however. "One girl (with CF) told me there was no way she was going to bring a baby into this world. She was very angry. She got a hysterectomy."

Debra successfully carried the baby to term, and a second three years later. Bryeanne, 17, is a world-class swimmer with her sights set on the next Olympics. Rachel, 14, is an accomplished athlete as well. Neither child has CF.

Like a lot of CF adults, Debra went through a period of doubt and depression. "They always say the first five years of a child's life are the formative years. After Bryeanne was born, I wanted to be around for that — at least long enough for her to remember me, and to know I loved her." She's had to revise that worthy goal several times since. "Now I want to be here through high school, college. I want to see my grandchildren."

Victory on and off the field
In Brad's case, the arrival of Bradley and Sadie served as a wake-up call. "He was very negligent with his treatments up until the kids came around," says Pam. Now he eats better and takes his vitamins, exercises and has a positive attitude."

Slight of build at 5 foot, 9 inches and 155 pounds, Brad, like all CF patients, has difficulty maintaining his weight. But he clearly keeps himself in superb condition. Marshall says physical conditioning "is one of the keys to combating CF and other chronic lung diseases. It's part of what we preach."

Not that doing so comes easily to the CF patient. The caloric intake requirements, the necessary enzyme and vitamin regimens, and the constant battles with fatigue are all factors with which CF patients must contend. And then there are the rigors of child rearing.

If Brad has anything even remotely close to a regret, it is this: "My father once told me 'There's no doubt in my mind you would have been a professional ballplayer if not for this disease.' The men in my family are all big. My brother is six-two, 220 pounds."

Still, you get the sense he's happy to settle for starring in a small town league, with his wife and two children among the team's supporters populating the bleachers.

On this night, the home team rallies for a tense, one-run victory. Watching Brad jog in from his familiar position in left field, it's easy to imagine him doing the same thing for a long time to come.

John Baiata is a senior editor and producer with NBC News.

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