Six months ago I was a cannabis addicted layabout with no motivation for living.....my excuse was Cystic Fibrosis. How unfair that I should have been born with this condition, why bother with treatment when all that lay ahead was more treatment, most of which would be unpleasent. I lived with this negative attitude for many years. My Cystic Fibrosis is atypical, it affects mainly my digestive system, liver, and pancreas. My lungs were always pretty good, so good that I have never had IV antibiotics. IV's is my biggest fear, to me it symbolised a downward spiral that would end in permanent hospitalisation.

Ten weeks ago, with the help of Dr Rashid who gave me, to put it bluntly a much needed kick up the backside I realised the error of my ways and how childish an attitude I was adopting. Giving up on life just isn't a viable option. I wish I could say I came to this realisation on my own, but truth be told, my poor lung function and threat of an IV was my initial motivating factor to change. Fear is a great motivator, even if maybe not the best reason to change.

I gave up cannabis and cigarettes and started training 4-5 times a week at my local gym. With this routine in place it was a lot easier to take treatment daily and now I actually take more medication that the doctors have been trying to get me to take for years...DNase, coloymicin, using an acapella, and insulin.

What started as purely health related, I soon discovered had positive side effects, I rediscovered my passion for life.
I intend to return to full time education and get the qualifications necessary to return to work in the computing industry.

I would like to thank all of the staff on ward 26 for not giving up on me when I know I wasn't the easiest patient to try to help.

Richard Carter