Cystic Fibrosis: Overjoyed family opens up about transformed life with wonder drug
Cystic Fibrosis Trust explain what causes the disease
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They along with thousands of other sufferers have been given a new lease of life thanks to wonder drug Kaftrio. Mum Sharon Bysephipps, 48, was thrilled by last July’s NHS deal as three of her seven children desperately needed it. And to celebrate their “amazing 12 months” they recreated a picture from the Daily Express. Sharon, husband Matt, 48, and children Holly Watson, 27, Matthew, 15, and Lucy, 14, are once again beaming with joy.
And it’s in no small part due to the addition of Holly’s two-week-old son Edward.
Kaftrio aided her in pregnancy and is also having a positive impact for siblings Matthew and Lucy. She said: “It has been everything we dreamed it would be.”
The married mum of two from Lincoln added: “We have all found we can breathe deeper and it has helped our appetites.
“It has also given me the extra strength to have Edward and we can all think so much more positively about the future. We are all so grateful to all the people for campaigning for this amazing drug.”
Since 2019 the Daily Express has fought for Britons to access US firm Vertex’s incredible pill Kaftrio, hailed as “almost a cure for CF”.
There are more than 10,600 people in the UK with the genetic condition, which destroys the lungs with sticky mucus. Last summer the NHS struck a deal for the medicine and now more than 90 per cent of those aged 12 and over can have it.
And last month we revealed how Vertex has applied to give Kaftrio to the UK’s 1,300 suitable youngsters aged six to 11.
Holly’s four other siblings Faye, 28, Dana, 25, Lauren, 10, and eight-year-old Buster were born CF-free.
Matthew wants to be a lifeguard now Kaftrio has given him so much strength and energy while Lucy wants to train to be a paramedic.
Holly has temporarily come off the drug while breast-feeding Edward, but said: “I saw a huge change and I look forward to taking it again.”
Mum Sharon said: “They drive each other on.”
Holly added: “Although we have had the pandemic, we cannot help, as a family, think it has been an amazing 12 months.”
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