Jack Smythe shows us how it’s done: a truckie, a soccer player and an advocate for cystic fibrosis 

Jack Smythe, a dedicated soccer player, lives with cystic fibrosis. His journey from diagnosis to his recent encounter with federal politics is a testament to the power of resilience and modern medicine. 

Life for Jack has been a positive, albeit challenging, experience. From an early age, he regularly visited Randwick Hospital, following treatment plans provided by doctors and physiotherapists. These early interventions gave him a glimpse of what to expect in the coming years, setting the stage for his remarkable journey. 

Unique challenges marked Jack’s childhood and schooling. In the early days, there was limited knowledge about CF, and treatments were rudimentary. “I remember mum giving me chest physio on the physio table at an early age, a very early way, I guess, of getting mucus moving. In addition, playing sports at a very young age, all through my teens and into the 20’s was a good move for me as it was a form of physio as well as regular chest physio of a night.” 

In 2000, Jack had his first hospital admission at Randwick Children’s Hospital, marking the introduction of nebulizer-based physiotherapy into his routine. Despite the challenges of life with CF, he continued to lead a relatively normal life, participating in sports and overcoming obstacles. 

It wasn’t until Jack’s late twenties that a breakthrough medication, Orkambi, changed the game for him. But it was in 2022 that Jack experienced a true game-changer: Trikafta. “I remember having it for the first time like it was yesterday because up until this day, there had been no breakthrough drug of its kind. It came with side effects like difficulty breathing at times, but overall, I felt better, so the benefits outweighed the side effects.” 

Within a week of starting Trikafta, Jack felt a dramatic shift in his health, describing it as if a weight had been lifted from his chest. “I recall taking it for the first time once again, but this time, within the first week of treatment, I felt my whole chest as if it just became “free,” after a few days of coughing and clearing out my chest, I felt normal like someone had lifted a 10kg gym plate off my chest that had been on it for years. This medication has unlocked so many avenues in ways I sometimes thought I would never be able to do, one of which is soccer.” 

Coping with CF on tough days is no mean fete. Jack, 34, emphasises the importance of hobbies for a distraction. His interests in sports, cars, and computers have provided him with an outlet for stress relief and personal fulfilment. 

Balancing cystic fibrosis with other aspects of life, including social interactions, family, career, and sports, requires mental strength. Jack believes that understanding the importance of treatments as a key to enabling a fulfilling life makes the daily routine more manageable. 

Jack works as a heavy vehicle operator and deeply loves sports, mainly soccer. He began competing in 1999 and now, as of 2023, plays for the Miranda Magpies. 

Jack’s remarkable journey caught the attention of federal politics when he had the privilege of meeting Jenny Ware, a Federal Liberal Politician for the seat of Hughes in southern Sydney. Their conversation led to Jack sharing his CF journey and the significance of Trikafta’s approval under the Liberal government.

Jenny Ware gave Jack a public shoutout in the parliamentary 90-second statements, a recognition that meant a great deal to him. 

For future engagements with politics or advocacy, Jack remains open to opportunities that allow him to represent the cystic fibrosis community and showcase the transformative impact of Trikafta. 

For those who may feel that cystic fibrosis defines their entire identity, Jack’s advice is clear: CF is a part of life but not the whole life. He encourages individuals to find their passions and goals, pursue them vigorously, and not let CF hinder their aspirations, “With all the new modern medicine and help available these days, never think you can’t explore your dream. Find that career or job that makes you happy and doesn’t feel like a job. For me, it’s driving a truck, as I love driving. There will be days when it can be difficult, but we have to put ourselves first from time to time.” 

“Cystic fibrosis is a big part of our lives as we know, but it’s not our whole life; we can do anything no different than anyone else. Find your inner hobby and goal, whatever it is, strive for that and don’t let CF be in the way because we live a fairly normal life. We are lucky to live in modern medicine that allows us to achieve these. It was hard when I was growing up; there were no life-changing treatments, and outlooks were not as good, but they are now, and we have to remember this and be proud to live each day in the modern medicine world.”