Todd and Christine Greenough relax at the home of Todd’s parents in North Smithfield with their 14-month-old daughter, Avery, center, on Saturday. As a result of Todd’s cystic fibrosis affliction, the couple had expected to be unable to have children of their own. But in vitro fertilization allowed the them to conceive Avery, and following a second IVF procedure, they are expecting triplets in early September. Call Photo/Ernest A. Brown

Expected triplets are the latest victory for local man determined to defy the odds

By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

NORTH SMITHFIELD -- It makes his breathing difficult and has caused damage to his lungs due to infections, but cystic fibrosis, an inherited life-threatening disease, has never robbed Todd Greenough of his self-confidence and determination to achieve his goals in life.

Growing up with CF has always presented challenges for Greenough, who was able to hurdle those roadblocks with a steely determination to lead a normal life despite the medical odds.

When Greenough was born, the life expectancy of CF patients was 15 to 20 years. Greenough is now 33 and strong as ever. Cystic fibrosis affects the lungs and makes it hard to breathe, but Greenough never let that interfere with playing sports at North Smithfield Junior-Senior High School, where he graduated with honors in 1993. He went to college, got married and today works in Cambridge, Mass. as a scientist in the field of bio-technology.

But there was one challenge Greenough knew would test his faith and determination like nothing before — his ability as a man with CF to have children of his own.
Most men with cystic fibrosis are unable to father children because the vas deferens, a key part of the reproductive system, is blocked by mucus and does not develop properly. This condition is known as congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD). Infertility is also possible, though less common, in women with cystic fibrosis.

Greenough knew all that at the age of 15 or 16. But he did what he always did when CF threw a curve ball his way: he dug in his heels and believed that if and when the time came, he would have a family.
Today, on Easter, in a season symbolizing the birth of new life, Todd Greenough’s wife, Christine, is pregnant with not one child — but triplets — thanks to a successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. The three babies — due in September — will join their sister, Avery, the couple’s first child who was born 14 months ago after the couple’s first successful IVF procedure.

“For a family who thought children and grandchildren may never be in their future, we now are looking at four children under the age of 2 in an instant,” says Todd Greenough.
Greenough’s 33-year journey as a cystic fibrosis patient has been a difficult one with medical problems affecting his respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. But for every hardship and struggle the disease threw at him, Greenough grit his teeth and snarled back, determined to live a normal life.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections. It also obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.
Greenough was disagnosed with CF at birth, as was his older brother, 36-year-old Steven Greenough, both of whom were born and raised in North Smithfield.

“It was difficult growing up because it (CF) was something that was always in the back of my mind. I made a decision early on that I was not going to let it affect my daily life,” Todd says.

Sports, exercise and staying active were important to Greenough growing up, and in fact, it may have done more good for him than he ever suspected. Exercise used to be considered dangerous for CF patients because some patients had difficulty breathing. Today, exercise is considered a valuable tool for patients in maintaining good health.Greenough met Christine in 2003. She had recently graduated from the University of Rhode Island and he had just earned his degree from Providence College when they met at a biotechnology company they both were employed at. 

It didn’t take long for Greenough to realize that Christine was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Three months after they met, he proposed. They were married in August of 2005.
A good part of their early relationship involved long talks about Todd’s disease, including  issues of reproduction and his fertility potential. “She was aware of all this early on,” he says. “I was very open to her about it and she has been very supportive.”

Rather than accept the fact they would be unable to have their own biological children, the Greenoughs set out to achieve their dream of having a family of their own.

“Having a family and children was our goal,” Todd says. “This was just one more obstacle I knew I had to overcome.”

The challenge this time was whether in vitro fertilization (IVF) would help the couple achieve that dream.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a technique in which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the woman’s womb. IFV is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing ova (eggs) from the woman’s ovaries and letting sperm fertilize them in a fluid medium. The fertilized egg (zygote) is then transferred to the patient’s uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy.

It was the answer to the Greenoughs prayers. In January of 2007, Christine gave birth to Avery, a little girl that has brought so much joy to their lives it’s hard for Todd to put it in words. “She’s amazing. She’s incredible smart and vivacious. She’s perfect in every way. My entire family calls her the family miracle. We’ve been blessed.”

Todd and Christine knew they wanted more children and they wanted them sooner rather than later. “We wanted the ages of the children to be closer together so we decided to go for the second procedure in December of this year.”

Two embryos were implanted this time and in January the Greenoughs recieved a call from the fertility clinic with the incredible news: One of the two embryos had split into an individual embryo leaving Christine pregnant with triplets.

“We were in a state of shock,” Todd says. “I mean, we knew it could happen, but we never thought about it. Our families were even more shocked because while they were there to support us during the first IFV procedure, we didn’t say anything about the second procedure until we knew for sure.”
Christine’s due date is Sept. 5 — her birthday — but because she is pregant with triplets she may deliver them as early as late July or early August. The couple will find out whether the triplets are boys or girls on April 11.

In the meantime, the Greenoughs, who own a small condominium, need to find a bigger house for their growing family. “We had been house hunting since the arrival of Avery, but now with three more coming we’re in a bit more of a hurry. We need a bigger house. A bigger car. A bigger everything,” Todd says laughing.

The Greenoughs are aware of some of the religious views and objections towards reproductive technology, but say they don’t regret the decisions they’ve made. “I appreciate and understand their opinions, but unless you are facing this issue on the other side, I don’t think it’s right to judge,” Todd says. “Anyone who has love to share is worthy of being a parent.”
In the meantime, the Greenoughs are looking forward to the arrival of their three new babies.

“As a CF patient it was thought that I would never have children of my own and my family would not have grandchildren and nieces and nephews,” says Todd. “This is a blessing beyond words.”