Channan Petrides, who has incurable disease cystic fibrosis, has been on the transplant list since September 2014 but decided to exclude herself after learning of the hidden risks the operation would cause. She said her loved ones struggled with her decision initially with some even refusing to speak to her but are now fully supportive and understand her way of thinking.
‘Nobody could say for sure that the transplant would work, and I wouldn’t have been able to do anything on my bucket list because of risk of infection.
‘Cystic fibrosis feels like having a plastic bag over your head and breathing through a straw so a lot of patients who have transplants have to learn to breathe again because they aren’t used to taking in that much air.
‘If it brought me another twenty years, of course I’d do it, but doctors told me there was a chance I’d die on the operating table or my new organs would fail after just six months.’
The disease is caused by a fault in the gene that controls salt and water movement between cells, meaning the lungs become clogged with mucus, making it difficult to breathe.
It can also cause conditions such as diabetes or an enlarged heart, and sufferers must take tablets with every meal to help them digest food.
On her bucket list, Channan’s ultimate goal is to walk the red carpet of the Brit Awards.
She posted about her story on Facebook in December 2014 which, in turn, allowed her to tick off one more goal going viral.
‘I was nervous to upload it because I’m not one for sympathy,’ she said.
‘I try to be as positive I can and never like to splash it over social media if I’m having a bad day, but the response has been amazing.
‘I’ve had messages of support from everywhere from Africa to Australia. The outpouring of support gets me through the day.’
Source: metro.co.uk
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