Hi, my name is Allison

I live with my beautiful daughter Hannah.
Hannah was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at birth.

There was no indication throughout the pregnancy that anything was wrong and no history in the family, so it was a huge shock when she was born with meconium ileus (blocked bowels) the first sign of CF. She was whisked away to ICU in Lewisham and that was home for 3 months.

Her bowels were blocked and she went to theatre less than 24hrs into her life. All very scary and emotional but that was just the start. After another operation because they got blocked again and an ileostomy bowel placed on the outside of body to allow the bowel to rest) plus feeding tubes and liver disease I was then hit with ?she has a hole in her heart and a narrowing of one of her arteries "!!!

Well we eventually went home, such a relief to finally be out of hospital. But we shouldn't have spoken too soon. 3 days later she was readmitted, not feeding and dehydrated. A feeding tube was placed down her nose and a week later we were discharged. This was ongoing for many years. Trips to Great Ormand St. to find out what was wrong. Medications to try and control the reflux. Cameras put down her throat etc. but nothing worked.

Eventually we opted for a Peg (tube in the stomach for feeding) This was a great decision. No more staring in the street! Feeding was still a nightmare though. She would take 1 1/2 hrs to eat 4 chips, 1/2 fishfinger and 2 spoons spaghetti! Thankfully now things are much better but she still needs overnight feeds to keep her weight and the fluids up.

In 2000 we became a single parent family and moved home to Portsmouth. Things settled into a way of life with CF. Dealing with the constant medications, physio, hospital appointments, overnight feeds, chest infections, etc. It wasn't easy but we had our family around us.

Just after Hannah's 5th Birthday she had her heart op. A device was fitted to close the hole and an umbrella device to widen the artery. Down in surgery she had to have the "paddles" as her heart went out of rhythm but amazingly that night she was on the ward up and down the corridor riding a car!! It?s amazing what they can do. Later that year she also took part in the Great South Mini run. A very proud moment.

Hannah's also had 2 more operations on her nose for nasal polyps and mucus obstruction. A port a cath fitted and more bowel obstructions. Plus 2 week courses of I.V antibiotics for chest infections, at one point every 8-12 week intervals.

CF isn?t easy and you try and put difficult thoughts to the back of your mind, but one cough is a constant reminder. Despite all this she's an amazing strong and intelligent person. When you see her you wouldn't know that anything was wrong. She loves swimming, trampolining, guides, music, reading, writing............life!! CF is a part of us and that part makes us stronger.