Mel’s Story
You can definitely do so much, having Cystic Fibrosis (CF). CF has never stopped me doing anything. I used to be a top runner in my school. When I was 13 -15 years old, I used to win every cross-running event. When I was 15, I did the State cross country in Victoria and came 56 out of 113 people and did it in my fastest time. I loved it.
After that, my biggest achievement was buying my massage business at 21 years of age. Working for yourself gives you so much freedom, but you don’t get paid if you’re unwell. I now have 2 businesses, the first was remedial deep tissue massage and at one point I was seeing 8 clients 3 days a week. My clients are now so aware not to come and see me if they are sick.
I have now become a business coach specialising in women who have a condition like CF, you work with energy cycles, learning not to push yourself and burn out. When you have an illness you often push through, then your infection flares up and you end up in hospital. I have worked out that there are things you can do when you’re unwell, and when your energised it’s amazing. I’m always visible on social media and have templates to work with, when I’m on fire I do a bit more.
So good to have your own business, you have to scale it so that it makes money. I think its key to pace yourself. I would like to work with other people from the CF community. It’s a process of working with limitations and getting to a place of sustainable success, working with your energy and illness.
Travel has been a big thing, I started doing the easy stuff like Bali. My partner is Irish, so we have been to Ireland twice. I went to Dublin by myself and I really enjoyed that. I have been to Thailand. I would take 3 weeks off each September and go on a break. I went to Fiji for my 30th. I like the beach and the ocean, it’s relaxing and went snorkelling with the whale sharks in Exmouth. It was the most amazing experience, I was struggling to breathe and snorkel, so I got towed which meant that I got to be the closest to the whale sharks!
I had my baby when I was 22, he doesn’t have CF and he is now 9 years old. I have a lovely partner and we got married in 2012. The pregnancy was awesome, the birth was amazing, but I felt very isolated, because I was so young, it was a big shift. Then when he went to school, he brought home lots of bugs, but that’s all good now he hardly ever gets sick. I would advise all parents to ask for help, you’re not weak, you’re not a bad mother, get someone to look after your baby so you can do your nebs, go for a walk or get someone to make your lunch.
There is no limit to it. You can still travel the world if you want to, you can still make a million dollars if you want to. You can build your dream house, just work with your CF, embrace it. It gives you the competitive advantage, it makes you stronger and more resilient. Anxiety can flare up mine has mostly been situational, I was waiting for a transplant last year, but have since gone on Trikafta, doubled my lung function, increased my weight by 9 kilos and sleeping and exercising more. I do things that give you some dopamine, puzzles, craft, exercise, self-care, something that distracts the mind. I’m also offering business coaching to adults with CF to inspire people to continue with their business and not give up.