Taking life as it comes - Bradi McManus
In the lead up to '65 Roses Day' 2006 Bradi McManus told her story to The Young Witness.
"I'm Bradi McManus and I have been living with Cystic Fibrosis for 17 1/2 years. Both of my parents are carriers of the CF gene, therefore I had a one in four chance of getting this life threatening disease.
Life with CF has many difficulties, from physio therapy twice a day, along with tablets after each bit of food with fat in it eaten, to a course of nebulised antibiotics every two weeks to keep me well and without infection.
Whilst these antibiotics will stand for a little while, a trip to Sydney Children's Hospital for a three week treatment of IV antibiotics is needed for a 'tune up' or when nebulised antibiotics fail to work.
At seven years of age I was given a gastrostomy tube for over night feeds of powdered mile to keep my energy lvels up and allow me to put on weight. Four years ago, because my veins collapsed I got a portacath which is a devise located in my upper chest which allows me to have IV antibiotics.
Financially, mum and dad have troubles, from getting me to Sydney for check ups and hospital stays many times a year, to medication and making sure I get the right foods which allow for my high fat stable diet. My diet would have to be the only positive thing about having CF. I can eat as much as I want and not put on too much weight. However, this varies between people and different strains of CF. I have met others with CF, some not living to their mid teens to some who have never been hospitalized their whole life.
I love sport: I play soccer, touch and go horse riding when I'm not held up with school and assessments. CF slows me down a lot, and if it is too cold or raining I can not play sport and rarely leave the house in case I catch a chold which will lead to a chest infection.
I believe I have a great life. My parents are mega supportive and are full of love and there is no way I would be here today if it wasn't for them. I have a great group of friends who understand and help out when I'm sick or in need. Even though CF is a bugger to live with, whether you have got it or know someone with it, you take life as it comes and accept that you need to do anything you can to help yourself live each day through."
Sany McManus, Bradi's mother says, "Bradi is a tough little girl and lives life to the fullest. She will never let CF get in her way, but there are times when CF wears her down and she has to give in to it. We only pray that there will be a cure and she will live a very long and happy fulfilled live."
