It’s a bit daunting to think of the future when you have cystic fibrosis. If you find yourself freaking out, don’t worry, I too, worry about the future – I mean, with expiry dates, worsening conditions, ah, there can be a snowball effect.
But now with medicines like Trikafta, which I am fortunate to have access to, I have an actual future. Which is kinda scary. My whole life I was preparing myself to die young – woah! That was deep, huh?
So, how the heck do I plan for the future? I mean, seriously. Knowing there was a high likelihood I would probably pass away before I reached my mid-twenties, before I could fall in love and feel loved, before I could see the world; I had made peace with it – kind of. As much as a kid could, I knew what life looked like, I was just worried about the people I’d leave behind.
Now I have this weird thing called time. I have a future. I have time to be me and chase after every little dream I’ve ever had. But how have I adjusted?
Truth is, I haven’t. I still freak out about being 21, knowing that it was a possibility I would be dead by now, and life was a dark, looming, unpredictable whirlwind. I am still scared of things taking a turn for the worst, but that could be the anxiety talking. What I’m trying to say is, I try not to hide away from the world in fear of previous experiences.
Now, planning for my future, I’ve started making five-year-goals. In five years: I want to be working in high levels of Australian motorsport; I want to have travelled to a few different countries; I want to have done things I can be proud of. In five years, I want to do things little me would wig-out about.
I think it’s totally normal to be nervous, fearful, and unprepared for the future. I am all these because thinking of the future is hard, it’s full of what ifs. But planning for the future has to be done one step at a time. It requires taking time to make goals, dreaming of travel, dreaming of starting a family, (IF that is what you’re into, I know I’m more inclined to magnetise towards a career and dogs) and daring to dream of things that once felt impossible. Daring feels daunting, but after allowing myself to dare to dream and hope, I have opened so many new doors of opportunities.
If you’re like me, you have time to grow, to be, to explore, to be successful, to be determined. I no longer enable my mindset around CF to put me in a box, and I never really have either, but now as I plan for the future, I believe I have the time to do whatever I dream of.
I challenge you to embrace this scary thing too. Time is wonderful, it’s a chance for magical challenges, experiences, and memories yet to be made.
*It’s important to note that everyone’s reaction and response to medication is different. While some people may experience positive outcomes on certain treatments, others may have different experiences, or they may not be eligible to receive the same medication. To understand what medication(s) may be appropriate for you, or if you have any concerns about your current treatment, please speak to your clinical team.
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.
