“CF does not define me,” says Tayla, who recently celebrated her 21st birthday, marking another year of overcoming the challenges posed by Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
Tayla has faced the realities of living with CF head-on, proving that she’s more than the genetic condition. Despite growing up with Cystic Fibrosis, Tayla’s childhood was filled with normalcy, akin to any other child without CF. “I did notice some differences to my friends, where I had to be left out of some swimming lessons and other various activities, but no one treated me any different from the age of 10.”
“I stayed outside, played with friends, ran away from the waves at the beach, enjoyed watching Mamma Mia with my grandma and played last card and uno with mum and dad. I just had slight differences to my peers and that was okay.”
Trikafta, a groundbreaking treatment for CF, has played a pivotal role in Tayla’s journey. Having participated in a drug trial for the CFTR modulator therapy, she affirms that it was the best decision she ever made.
Before the trial, Tayla’s lung function stood at 40% and discussions of placing her on the transplant list loomed. However, thanks to Trikafta, her lung function has significantly improved to an impressive 84% and she’s been able to maintain her weight. With her health on a positive trajectory, Tayla now seizes every opportunity to live life to the fullest, constantly pushing her boundaries and defying the odds.
To maintain her well-being and manage the challenges of living with Cystic Fibrosis, Tayla employs different strategies like being mindful towards her health and prioritising self-care.
“Sometimes I engage in a hot girl walk or pilates, but getting some movement always helps me to relax and ground myself on the days where things get overwhelming… On the occasions when I couldn’t move due to coughing up blood, I’d simply potato-couch-it up with the TV show “Friends” on replay, or by watching various motorsport races (which I do daily anyway).
Finding balance has also become one of Tayla’s main goals as she pursues higher education and work. “I am still exploring my limits, especially as I study full time at the University of the Sunshine Coast and work part time with Karting Australia. Through both commitments, I’ve been able to determine where my focus is. And Trikafta has helped a great deal with this too. Being well and able to breathe really helps you get the job done. I have more active time throughout the day… but balancing really is just that. Gotta try before you find out. No such thing as failure.”
Driven by her unwavering passion for motorsport, Tayla aspires to work in Formula 1 and the Supercars Championship in the realm of journalism, presenting, and media – a dream she’s had since she was three years old. With the aid of Trikafta, which got her off the transplant list, Tayla is determined to go after her dream, visualizing a future without any lingering doubts. “I have no doubt in my mind when I think of this dream and goal. I know I can do it.”
Tayla says motorsport has always been her calling, a profound interest that she now seamlessly combines with her skills in photography, reading, and writing. Although initially aspiring to be a photographer, she received discouragement regarding its long-term viability as a career. Undeterred, Tayla ingeniously combined all her interests to forge a path towards her wildest dreams, determined to leave an indelible mark in the motorsport industry.
Facing the realities of life and death head on, Tayla hopes to do some more exploring and maximise the use of her time while she still can. “My dreams are to travel the world and go to a few Formula races along the way, and just enjoy life while I’m here… it’s a bit depressing but you know what I mean. Life’s short, we must enjoy it, have fun, and grow as humans.”
Meanwhile, if there’s anything that Tayla is undoubtedly clear about, it’s that she’s more than CF. “My family and I always used to say, ‘Yes, you’ve got CF, but it doesn’t define you. It isn’t you.’ And that’s really clung,” she says. “I am not CF, it doesn’t determine what I can and can’t do, it is not me. I rule it and not the other way around.”
Additionally, Tayla emphasises that, for her, Cystic Fibrosis isn’t the end all and be all. “Embrace CF, acknowledge it but don’t give it the power to dull your spotlight. It grinds my gears when I hear ‘Oh but I have CF so I can’t’… because uh-uh! You can absolutely do anything.”
“Prove yourself and everyone who says otherwise wrong,” Tayla says. “Follow your dreams. CF is crap, it sucks, it can be unforgiving. But we are so much more. We’re resilient, we’re strong. We can do anything we put our minds to. You can, you can, you absolutely can. Always remember that.”
The views, experiences or comments shared on this website are not medical advice and may not reflect opinions or beliefs of Cystic Fibrosis Community Care. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions regarding your health.
