Cath on Community and CF

The theme for this year’s CF Month is “Unity in Community.” We asked Cath Tucker what “Unity in Community” means to her, and this is what she said:

1.Please tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Cath Tucker, I am 58 years old and I am from NSW.

2. What do you wish people knew about CF?

Firstly, that CF is not a visible disability. Many have a chronic cough which often causes alarm when out in public, especially after the COVID epidemic, people should realise that most of the time their cough is not usually contagious.

For those who have children who have been diagnosed with CF and even adults, exercise plays a very important role in their lifestyle. It is so beneficial to keep those lungs working a little harder to help shift the mucus and build up one’s strength. Of course everyone will have different levels of capability but any sort of movement can be helpful.

3. What’s the strangest thing someone has asked you about CF?

Well, I was playing soccer when I was a young adult and I was coughing my way around the pitch when one of the opposition’s teammates asked me if I had TB. I was astounded and I said, “I don’t think I would be playing soccer if I had TB.” Most people would assume I was a smoker and that is the last thing I would ever do.

4. If you could go back and give your younger self some advice – what would it be?

If I were younger, I would make sure people knew I had CF and explain to my friends and people in my year what people with CF have to do on a daily basis. I am now at ease about explaining this condition to others so the awareness of CF is acknowledged and understood.

5. The theme for CF Month is, “Unity in Community.” What does Unity in Community mean to you?

Unity in Community: This an important aspect to anyone who has CF – we just want to be your average person who fits in society being able to carry on in the community, working, doing activities, sports, joining clubs, making friends and having close relationships, as if we are just like anyone else. 

It is also beneficial to have a community that unites to help those with CF at times of ill health. I personally relied on my friends and my local community when I was going downhill and ultimately needed a double lung transplant. I had no family close by at the time, except for my young sons, and even after recovering from the transplant, I had a local church that did a roster of meals for me. It made me feel so blessed to have this help from my local community. That wasn’t the only thing, I was in hospital over Christmas and my local Apex bought my youngest son a decent bike, they helped me with my rent and they continue to help me with gardening jobs. I have certainly felt the community unity, all because they rallied together to make sure life was a bit easier for me in such difficult times.

Fundraising is another factor that unites the community, as there many expenses that we need for treatment with CF, whether it’s medicines, medical services and equipment necessary to maintain our health.