A Stirling cystic fibrosis affected person getting ready to requiring a lung transplant has been in a position reside her dream of taking to the ground for the primary dance at her marriage ceremony.
The milestone second was made attainable due to care from medics and the prescription of a ‘miracle’ drug.
Music instructor Kirsty Nelson, 32, shielded for a lot of the pandemic and had her marriage ceremony to fiancé Chris postponed on two events because of the virus.
However she was wholesome sufficient not solely to take to the ground for her first dance, however stayed on for all of the dances after that – one thing she would by no means have thought attainable earlier than being prescribed ‘miracle’ drug Kaftrio by specialists on the Queen Elizabeth College Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow.
CF is a genetic situation wherein the lungs and digestive system can turn into clogged with thick, sticky mucus. The sickness can have an unlimited influence on an individual’s high quality of life and means even a typical chilly can land them in hospital.
It requires life-long therapy and shut administration for sufferers to reside even comparatively regular lives.
For Kirsty, who lives in Stirling, having CF has meant struggling to finish even the only of day-to-day duties like going up stairs or holding a dialog whereas strolling.
Nevertheless, due to her ongoing care from the CF staff on the QEUH - which takes care of CF sufferers from throughout Scotland - simply over two years in the past Kirsty was put ahead for a medical trial of Kaftrio, which drastically reduces CF signs in sufferers.
Since then, the drug has turn into extra extensively obtainable on the NHS for sufferers who're clinically acceptable.
For Kirsty, it has meant she has been in a position to reside a close to regular life – one which she might solely ever have dreamed of earlier than Kaftrio.
Kirsty mentioned: “I used to be at some extent the place I used to be out and in of the hospital each different month. My lungs had deteriorated a lot they had been seeking to get me on the transplant listing.
“Then alongside got here Kaftrio.
“I keep in mind taking my first two tablets at 10am. It was throughout lockdown, and I used to be sitting in my backyard. Inside hours I used to be respiratory simpler and inside per week my lung operate had improved by 20 per cent - which is a giant deal when you could have cystic fibrosis.”
Since then, with a steadily bettering lung operate and general well being, Kirsty has been in a position to tackle a instructing function whereas additionally lastly tying the knot with companion of seven years Chris in February this yr at Crear Weddings in Kilberry.
Kirsty mentioned: “Earlier than Kaftrio, a practical dream for my marriage ceremony was to have sufficient power to bounce the primary dance.
“The fact was I had the right marriage ceremony and danced all evening. This was due to the staff at QEUH who've sorted me all these years to get me to that time after which additionally getting me on that Kaftrio trial three years’ in the past.”
Now, Kirsty might be discovered strolling within the countryside along with her two canine Òran and Machair, swimming or biking as she continues to construct up her health forward of bagging her first Munro within the close to future.
Kirsty mentioned: “CF has gone from defining me to taking a again seat. It’s not an excuse I take advantage of anymore.
“I’ll nonetheless have to carefully monitor it and there might be factors the place I have to depend on the staff on the QEUH, however they've supplied such superb care thus far.
“I do know I’m in protected fingers, which suggests I can deal with residing my life to its new fullest potential.”
Professor Gordon MacGregor, marketing consultant doctor on the QEUH, and a part of the CF staff caring for Kirsty through the years, mentioned: “Kirsty is actually inspiring within the method she has managed her sickness through the years whereas additionally making an excellent contribution to elevating consciousness of CF within the media through the years.
“It’s implausible to see how a lot of an influence Kaftrio has had on her high quality of life. Presently, we deal with greater than 250 sufferers with Kaftrio, which is one among numerous remedies for CF sufferers serving to them reside fuller lives with much less acute visits to our hospitals.”