Charlotte is a funny, silly, creative, loving, caring eight-year-old with a unique sense of style. She loves riding her bike and scooter, playing with her barbies and dolls and being tickled until she's all giggled out. Charlotte also has cystic fibrosis (CF); a life threatening genetic condition primarily affecting the lungs and digestive system. In order to keep as healthy as possible, Charlotte is required to live an active lifestyle and consume a high fat, high salt diet. She completes chest physiotherapy each day to remove the thick, sticky mucous that builds up in her lungs, as well as taking various medications. Charlotte also takes pancreatic enzyme tablets prior to eating and drinking anything containing fat as her body is unable to absorb fat and nutrients naturally. Charlotte takes approximately 20 tablets per day. The life expectancy for people born with CF today is just 37 years. Currently, there is no cure.
May is the national fundraising month for Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania (CFT). CFT provide support to the 110+ families in Tasmania living with CF. They provide assistance from the cost of nebulisers to the expenses involved with CF patients travelling interstate for life-saving double lung transplants. Further research and support services require funds. With these funds, we aim to increase the quality, and extend the life of Tasmanians living with cystic fibrosis.
For our 65 Roses Challenge last year, we raised over $5000 during May by meeting and having a photo with 65 different dogs. This year, Charlotte is aiming to run a lap of 65 different ovals, raising awareness and funds along the way.
As Charlotte's mum, it is incredibly hard to see what Charlotte has to go through at times, and while aiming to remain positive about the future, thinking about the likelihood of her condition declining, and her current life expectancy is absolutely heartbreaking. So, thank you for taking the time to visit this page, I can never express how much your support means to me.
Carrie
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