New Chapter, New Start, Same Me?

A lot has happened in the last year or so. I have been challenged mentally in ways I never really thought I would be challenged. This is due to continuous hospital admissions, constant adjustments of medications, tiresome doctor’s appointments – which basically just felt like I was in some kind of groundhog year. I had always been so used to being poorly and well, getting over it really. I could always shake off an hospital admission or just tell myself ‘this is only temporary, just get on with it’, but then I realised – this wasn’t healthy! The reality is, I was experiencing first-hand the cruel harsh reality of what having CF meant. I was a completely different person, I was anxious, tired, scared of living my life in fear of being ill – which is something nobody should ever have to experience yet people do every day. It has taken me a year to fully recuperate, but even now I take each day how it comes and just do the best I can! Of course, I have days when I think to myself ‘do I really have to contend with this’ ‘I can’t be bothered’ - but then I think to myself, look how far you have come and how far you are going to go!!! That keeps me going really. I called this first blog post, a new chapter, a new start, same me… it may seem confusing, so I will explain why I have done that. Turning 17, I thought that was my new chapter, but yesterday my new chapter and new start for me really began...

I finally transitioned to my Adults Cystic Fibrosis Team. I was extremely nervous. Purely because I have created amazing bonds within the Paediatric team and they had seen me through the good, bad and ugly times through all of my life. I had the most amazing nurse and I was extremely anxious to adjust to change. However, I went and it was not that scary!!! The team were extremely lovely and so welcoming and made me feel really at ease.

So it is a new chapter of my life as I am officially an adult (in the eyes of the NHS) and a new start as I am beginning to venture into Adulthood and Health BUT it is the same me. The reason for this is because I can only try my hardest and do what I have been doing for the past 17 years. Of course, I have to adjust to change at times but ultimately I still am going to try and remain positive. But also, all the hardship I faced last year and perhaps will face in the years to come have (and are) going to make me who I am today!

I wanted to start this blog to make people with or without CF realise that they are more than just what they are 'told' they are. People are more than just their illnesses, genders, ages and so on. I truly believe we all can achieve if we put our minds too it. I also wanted people to really realise that just because someone has an illness, it doesn't mean they are not capable of doing other things. So many CF'ers such as Ben Mudge and Sophie Grace Holmes are now removing the stigma and I definitely would love to be apart of that. They are inspirations to people with OR without CF!

So, here is to the start of new beginnings but still remaining the same person! It's going to be an interesting journey!