My sister Rosie suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. While people with CF often look healthy on the outside, each individual is battling their own range of symptoms on a daily basis.
Rosie is 26 years old and was diagnosed when she was 10. She was treated at Medway Maritime Hospital until she was 16 and now has to travel to Kings College Hospital for her check-ups and hospital stays. Rosie suffers from exacerbations (a sudden worsening of health, often owing to infection). This can lead to frequent hospitalisation for weeks at a time, interfering with work and home life.
Rosie was told she wouldn’t be able to have children due to the pressure it would have on her body however she has 2 beautiful children Freddie, 6, and Daisy, 3.
In the last year, Rosie has suffered from a lot of stress and worry, became a single parent, had to move house, juggle work, children and home life on her own. Although she is finding her feet now this has had a major effect on her health.
Earlier this year, she visited Kings for her check-up and was advised that the way her health was she wouldn’t be here in 10 months’ time! This was obviously a huge shock to herself and her immediate family. She has since been back a few times for further check-ups, and even though the doctors have advised her health has improved from when she was really poorly, she has lost about 1 litres worth of capacity in her lungs.
Since finding all this out I am organising a fundraising fun day on the 8th July at The Chequers pub in Hoo, proceeds will be going to Cystic Fibrosis Trust. However, I wanted to also arrange something for Rosie. As she has never been on holiday with her 2 children I would like to raise funds to send them on their first holiday together. Due to CF we never know what’s round the corner! Rosie has always been told her life expectancy will never be as long as the average person however after hearing the news earlier this year I want to book this holiday treat for them ASAP