'It’s terrifying': Teen's advice after receiving life-saving gift for 18th birthday
Most normal Aussie teens when they turn 18 are just excited about being able to go to the pub, or maybe they want a new phone, or even a rust-bucket car for their coronation into official adulthood.
But Townsville teen Abi Chase wanted something very few people could give her: a new set of lungs.
“Normality is something I never had,” she told Yahoo News Australia.
She was born with cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects the lungs and digestive system thanks to a malfunctioning gene that produces thick and sticky mucus in the lungs and intestines. As a result she was required to use oxygen and struggled to do the most mundane physical activities in her late teens.
“I couldn’t walk more than five metres without having either a severe coughing fit or fainting,” she explained.
At 17, as Abi tried to prepare for her final exams, all she could think about was getting on the donor list before it was too late. Her health was deteriorating and she had watched others in similar situations not make it.
“I was incredibly worried. I’ve had two friends pass while waiting for lungs,” she said. “It’s terrifying.”
In May that year, she was told that if she left the hospital’s care, she would likely not make it to Christmas.
“While my friends were starting their first year of uni, or planning their futures, I was sitting in a hospital bed, planning my funeral.”
‘By the time I realised ... it was too late’
In a lucky turn of events, Abi was able to get a new pair fo lungs just a month before her 18th birthday. Rather miraculously, she received the transplant after being on the donor list for just seven days, thanks to being a high priority case.
“The average wait time for lungs, once listed, is from six months to two years,” she said. But Abi didn’t have that long to wait.
The lungs she got weren’t a perfect fit, but they’ll certainly do. “They were in such a rush to give me lungs, that these ones are actually about five centimetres too big. They’re slightly squished at the bottom,” she said.
Now, at age 20, Abi is sharing her story with the help of Queensland Health this week to give hope to the many other Australians dealing with the disease - and she has some potentially life saving advice to offer.
During her teenage years she neglected her health. Being surrounded by death in the cystic fibrosis community, she didn’t see the point in constantly doing the procedures to help manage her condition. Teenagers are famous for their nihilism, but in this case, the consequences were deadly.
“I became so sick because I didn’t do my treatments when I was 13 through to when I was 15. It permanently damaged my body, and by the time I realised that it was vital to do my treatments, it was too late,” she told Yahoo.
Her advice for others in a similar position: “Do your treatments and listen to your doctor!”
“It can be so hard, because you just want to fit in and have fun. But you can’t have fun if you’re sick, so listen to your specialists,” she said.
New treatment brings fresh hope
One in every 2,500 babies in Australia are born with cystic fibrosis. There is currently no cure but patients are able to use medical treatments and physiotherapy to help with managing symptoms.
A new breakthrough drug is currently being trialled in Queensland which could help add decades to the life of sufferers. The drug, which consists of three daily pills, is the first to treat the faulty gene that causes cystic fibrosis.
After three international trials, it is being tested at Brisbane's Prince Charles Hospital and hopes among the medical community are high, the ABC reported this week.
As for Abi, she is now living a full life and is no longer reliant on her parents to look after her. She is currently completing a Cert 3 in Business Traineeship and plans on taking some hard-earned lessons into her chosen career of event management.
“Because of CF, time scheduling is a huge part of my life, and I really enjoy creating routines, schedules, and organising,” she said.
“Plus I have a natural love of people and community.”
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter, download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
