Never Give Up - By Lorin Haire
Hi my name is Lorin Haire, I’m 20 yrs old and I have CF. I guess I am not that unique or different to many people with CF in that I take Creon capsules to digest my food and I use a pep mask to help clear my chest and I try to keep as healthy as I can. My CF diagnosis was missed through routine screening at birth but I was diagnosed at 2 ½ years of age after a sweat test. My mum, who is a nurse, knew that something was not quite right. After much persistence by mum, of going to doctors with no success in treating my symptoms, a friend of mum’s who is a doctor, diagnosed I had CF.
I learnt how to take Pancrease capsules and I hated having physio. When I was 12 I started using a Pep Mask, which replaced the physio. My parents encouraged me to have an active life. I participated in all the school swimming, cross country and athletics carnivals while in primary and secondary school. However whilst I like to run and swim my real love and passion is netball.
I have been playing netball since I was 7 and have been lucky enough to be selected in many teams. I have represented Blacktown City Association in State Age Championships since I was 11 and have played State League. I have also been selected for the NSW PSSA team, The Western Sydney Academy of Sport team, NSW CIS team, and the NSW Talent Identification Squad. Today I play Div 1 NSW State League netball for Hills District Association.
Whilst CF has set me some challenges you just have to get on with it. I have had 3 admissions to hospital in my life at 2, 8 and 12 yrs of age for a “tune up” which means intravenous antibiotics, physiotherapy and reassessment of my dietary habits and talking with medical staff about my health. For me it is important to stay healthy and I try to be physically active by training and playing hard. By playing a team sport I have made many new friends, and I have learnt how important discipline is, not only on the court but also in life and looking after my health. My motto is “Never Give Up” and I don’t intend to. For example when I was 15, I tore my Anterior Cruciate Ligament in my left knee whilst playing netball, which meant I couldn’t play netball again until I had surgery, which required a full Knee Reconstruction. I was in Rehabilitation for 14 months attending physiotherapy sessions, doing knee exercises twice a day trying to build my quad (thigh) muscles up to support my knee. I had to be disciplined to do this, trying to get my knee to function properly and get strong enough to play but also to keep chest infections under control as I was very restricted with the amount of aerobic physical activity I could participate in early on in my recovery. I am now back playing high level netball again which I love.
I believe with the amount of exercise, training, and mental strength I have learnt over the years while playing netball has helped me stay fit, healthy and reduced the severity of CF episodes in my life.
I hope everyone gets the opportunity to develop a passion for something they love like I have with netball.
Remember Never Give Up.
