My Life Expectancy Is 31. I'm 29. So That's Two Years of Parties, Extreme Sports and Romance... ; (1) in Her Own Words, Cystic Fibrosis Sufferer Kate Smith Tells Why She's Defied the Doomsayers and Her Illness (2) I Trained As an Aerobics Teacher..And Got the Giggles with Gordon I Trained As an Aerobics Teacher ...And Got the Giggles with Gordon

Daily Mail › March 04, 2008

Linked as:

Summary

YOUD hardly know I was ill if you were to look at me. I go out with my friends, have a drink, travel, work, all the things everyone else does. But at the back of my mind there is always a number the average life expectancy for someone with my disease. That number is 31. I am 29. I have cystic fibrosis. Its an incurable, genetic disease, where sufferers have thick mucus clogging their lungs.

Because of scarring from infection, a sufferer will either slowly suffocate leaving their lungs unable to supply enough oxygen to the body or their immune system loses the battle against infections. Should both parents have the gene, there is a one-in-four chance their child will have it. I do, but thankfully my younger brother Nick, and elder brother Alex, dont.

See the full content of this document

Extract

My Life Expectancy Is 31. I'm 29. So That's Two Years of Parties, Extreme Sports and Romance... ; (1) in Her Own Words, Cystic Fibrosis Sufferer Kate Smith Tells Why She's Defied the Doomsayers and Her Illness (2) I Trained As an Aerobics Teacher..And Got the Giggles with Gordon I Trained As an Aerobics Teacher ...And Got the Giggles with Gordon

When I was diagnosed at five, the average life expectancy was 17, but each case is different. Improved medication and physiotherapy have changed my life. Blowing out the candles on my 18th birthday cake felt very good indeed.

Given my health problems Ive been admitted to hospital at least a dozen times with infections, sometimes for several months I could have hidden away and given up.

Instead, I have lived life to the full parties, travel and romance. I love new sports and Ive been whitewater-rafting, tandem sky-diving and bungee-jumping in Australia. I know Ive got a lot to pack in.

When Im asked what is the worst part of my illness, Id have...

See the full content of this document