CFStrong: Inform. Educate. Empower.

CFStrong: Inform. Educate. Empower.

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CFStrong: Inform. Educate. Empower. episodes

  • Podcast: CFPhysio and navigating fatherhood—part 1
    CFPhysio and navigating fatherhood part 1
    This episode of the CFStrong podcast is thanks to our collaboration with CFPhysio
    Sam, a young man with a dedication to his daily routine, and his health shares with us some of his journey with CF. Sam, who has a very full plate of life, on top of juggling a chronic health condition walks us through some of the challenges, the ups and downs, and the decisions when starting a family. Sam is honest in sharing his experiences learning how to prioritise the things that bring him joy whilst upholding the tasks that keep his health.
    This first episode join Sam and his physiotherapist Robyn as he shares some of his early life with CF and his health journey.
    CFPhysio strives to deliver evidence-based education in CF physiotherapist management that is accessible to all. Their mission is to educate and empower healthcare workers (involved in the care of individuals with CF) and all those impacted by CF in physiotherapy. Visit CFPhysio to learn more.
    This podcast was published in July 2022. If you would like to share your story, please contact us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you and so would our listeners. 
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    26 min
  • CFPhysio and navigating fatherhood—part 2
    CFPhysio and navigating fatherhood part 2
    This episode of the CFStrong podcast is thanks to our collaboration with CFPhysio
    This is the second episode to navigating fatherhood with CF. Sam, a young man with a dedication to his daily routine, and his health shares with us some of his journey with CF. Sam, who has a very full plate of life, on top of juggling a chronic health condition walks us through some of the challenges, the ups and downs, and the decisions when starting a family. Sam is honest in sharing his experiences learning how to prioritise the things that bring him joy whilst upholding the tasks that keep his health.
    Transcript
    Jen: Hello, and welcome to the cfphysio.com and CF Strong Collaboration podcast series. My name is Jen Hauser. I'm a physiotherapist with almost 20 years experience in cystic fibrosis care and the project lead for cfphysio.com Together with CF Strong, we have joined forces to bring to the CF community real-life insights and personal experiences on all things physiotherapy and CF.
    cfphysio.com is a not-for-profit organization, striving to deliver evidence-based education in CF physiotherapy, management to healthcare workers and individuals impacted by CF. CF Strong is a website designed to inform, educate, and empower adults impacted by CF through the sharing of individual's personal journeys of living with CF. We hope you find some value from listening to the podcast we bring to you in this series.
    Please remember, the content is not intended to replace your usual healthcare. Please discuss any concerns or questions you may have with your healthcare team.
    It's a privilege again to have Sam and Robyn back in the studio to record our second chapter of Sam's journey, navigating fatherhood a chronic health condition. Sam has cystic fibrosis is a physiotherapist by trade, a keen exerciser, and we're really grateful Sam to have you with us again, hopefully, those listening have heard the first part of this podcast and learn a little bit more about you and your childhood and upbringing with cystic fibrosis.
    Thank you for continuing to share with us this journey of navigating fatherhood with a chronic health condition. Roybn, as your physiotherapist, thank you again for joining us, and we really look forward to this conversation. I will catch up with you guys at the end of the session. Thanks again.
    Robyn: Now we move into the very interesting part for you, which is the journey of looking at trying to become pregnant and what that actually looks like as a male with cystic fibrosis and what is involved in the steps of that. I'm sure we're all very interested to hear because it's an area that not many of us know much about. If you could just give us a little overview of that.
    Sam: Just to give our listeners a bit of an idea. We tried for seven years to have Caleb of which, well, nearly all of that was going through IVF. That is a journey that could take volumes of books to cover. To give a quick little snapshot obviously blokes with CF are unable to have children naturally. They're able to produce semen. They just can't get it out because the vast deens little tube that gets it out the normal way gets blocked off. It's not that they're entirely sterile, it just, they need a bit of help.
    We went to the IVF clinic. We actually went to three all up over our time. The general idea, it's pretty simple. They come along and they extract the semen with a big needle and then they have to harvest eggs from the woman which is a horrendous process because it involves heaps of hormone injections to have them overproduce eggs that are then harvested.
    Then in the lab, they take the semen and the egg and pop them together, and hopefully, the little baby embryo survives. If it does survive till day five, they will take that embryo and then the doctor will put it i...
    31 min
  • CFPhysio and navigating fatherhood—part 1
    CFPhysio and navigating fatherhood part 1
    This episode of the CFStrong podcast is thanks to our collaboration with CFPhysio
    Sam, a young man with a dedication to his daily routine, and his health shares with us some of his journey with CF. Sam, who has a very full plate of life, on top of juggling a chronic health condition walks us through some of the challenges, the ups and downs, and the decisions when starting a family. Sam is honest in sharing his experiences learning how to prioritise the things that bring him joy whilst upholding the tasks that keep his health.
    This first episode join Sam and his physiotherapist Robyn as he shares some of his early life with CF and his health journey.
    Transcript
    Jen: Hello, and welcome to the cfphysio.com and CF Strong Collaboration podcast series. My name is Jen Hauser. I'm a physiotherapist with almost 20 years experience in cystic fibrosis care and the project lead for cfphysio.com. Together with CF Strong, we have joined forces to bring to the CF community real life insights and personal experiences on all things physiotherapy and CF.
    Cfphysio.com is a not-for-profit organization, striving to deliver evidence-based education in CF physiotherapy management to healthcare workers and individuals impacted by CF. CF Strong is a website designed to inform, educate, and empower adults impacted by CF through the sharing of individual's personal journeys of living with CF. We hope you find some value from listening to the podcast we bring to you in this series.
    Please remember, the content is not intended to replace your usual healthcare. Please discuss any concerns or questions you may have with your healthcare team.
    Hello and welcome back. I am feeling very grateful today to have the two people in the studio that I have. We are covering a topic that I feel is a little bit silent and often doesn't get the spotlight that it should. As I said, gratitude is the word for today's session because I am very grateful to have Sam with us. Sam is a senior physiotherapist in the community with a specialty in falls and balance. He's married and he has a baby son Caleb, who's nine and a half months old.
    He's a keen exerciser and he's engaged in Tough Mudder amongst other high-intensity pursuits. Just to add a little bit more to his juggle in life, he's also an assistant pastor at his local church, and I haven't forgotten, but Sam also has cystic fibrosis. He's here in the studio today with his physio Robyn Cobb, to share with us a little bit about his journey in fatherhood and managing that juggle of work-life and health balance navigating all of those journeys.
    Robyn: is a senior physiotherapist of the adult Cystic Fibrosis Center at the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane with 20 years of cystic fibrosis clinical experience. Robyn has chaired the Queensland Cystic Fibrosis Physiotherapy subgroup and was on the working party that developed a clinical practice guideline for physiotherapy for CF in Australia and New Zealand. She's an executive member of cfphysio.com and a sessional lecturer for University of Queensland, including physiotherapy use of non-invasive ventilation.
    Rob and Sam, I am really looking forward to sitting back and having a listen as I know everyone else will be. I am just hand it over to both of you and I'll come and join you at the end.
    Robyn: Thanks so much, Jen, for that introduction. I am so excited to have the opportunity to introduce Sam to you today. Sam's agreed to talk with me about the experience of preparing to have a baby and manage the juggling act, as Jen said, once a new baby arrives. Thanks so much, Sam, for joining me today to share your experience. Before we get started, it might be good to know a little bit about you starting way back when you were a child and what it looked like for you as a child with cysti...
    26 min
  • Podcast: Kate on parenting with CF
    Kate on parenting and CF
    In this episode of the CFStrong podcast, we speak with Kate about navigating CF and parenting. We discuss Kate's journey to becoming a parent, how she manages her health while parenting and how she talks with her son about CF and what the future looks like.
    ”Now as he's a teenager, it's easy. But when he was little, I really focused massively on my health as well as parenting... you look at people that have got multiple kids, child three or four just fits in, right. So that's sort of the approach I took with my health and CF. So almost, you know, bizarrely, almost like my first child is CF, and my second child is my son. So he just had to fit in around it, which sounds really ruthless. But you know, without my health as a parent... all the wheels are gonna fall off. So I've got to keep as many wheels as I can, on myself, so I can do the job as well as I can.
    Transcript
    Voiceover: Welcome to the CFStrong podcast. CFStrong covers the successes and challenges faced by those living with cystic fibrosis. You'll hear first person stories, conversations with health professionals, friends and partners. Just a heads up, guests may share their personal views about treatments and health management. But please remember, this is not medical advice. And you should always follow the advice of your clinic team regarding your health.
    Kirby: Hello, my name is Kirby. And in this episode of the CF strong podcast, we're talking with Kate about CF and parenting. Thanks so much for joining us, Kate, can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself?
    Kate: Hey, Kirby. Um, so as you said, my name is Kate. And I'm 52. And I've got CF and I live with my husband and my son. I've got a 15 year old son. And I work part time very part time as a social worker.
    Kirby: So you're a mum?
    Kate: Yes.
    Kirby: Did you always want to be a mum?
    Kate: Good question. Look, yes, I did. But when I met my husband, I was 32 I think. So I decided from a CF perspective, I'd missed the boat. So the poor man, we went on our first date. And we actually met a person, well intentioned friends. Anyway, we went on our first date, and I just thought, Oh, this is ridiculous. I'm not going to start a relationship with someone who wants kids if I can't have them. So, you know, towards the end of our first date, I'm going look, what are your thoughts on having kids? And he's going yeah, great. Great. And I'm going right, so this has to be pretty much a last date. Because I'm too old to have kids from a CF perspective. Anyway. And then he was going well, it's a first date, let's just wait and see how we go. But here I was being really, I guess black and white and thinking, I don't want him to get attached like, I don't want to get attached to him, if it's gonna, if kids and my ability not to have them is going to be a deal breaker later. So he's just going well, let's just see you know how second date goes. And we can go from there. But yeah, so I did want kids, but I had decided that at 32, I had sort of missed the boat. Yeah.
    Kirby: And then what happens next? Because obviously, we all we know now that you have a teenage son, so what happened next?
    Kate: So what happened next? So we dated for a while and and then we started talking some more about kids. And he was going well, I don't see why. You know, you're saying you can't have kids, but you're so healthy. And also going well, you know, average life expectancy with CF is 37 and you're being 32. You know, that's not an ideal situation of kids. But obviously, I was thinking, I mean, I was really well. And I was thinking that 37 wouldn't apply to me. But I was still, you know, keeping an open mind. So then we started to do research, we were actually, we're both from a science background. So even though I'm a social worker,
    29 min
  • Podcast: Bryce on work, family and CF
    Bryce on work, family and CF
    In this episode of the CFStrong podcast, we speak with Bryce, a teacher from NSW, about work and family and how he manages both while also taking care of his health.
    ”A lot of people who are coming in to having a family think that they need to be on top of it all the time, you just, you can't be and it's hard. And it's tough. And it's not going to be easy all the time. There's certain things you can do to make it easier. But sometimes I'm just not and it's, something's got to give. And you've got to make the decisions and concessions as to what's going to give. But always trying to make sure that health kinda comes first.
    Transcript
    Voiceover: Welcome to the CFStrong podcast. CFStrong covers the successes and challenges faced by those living with cystic fibrosis. You'll hear first person stories, conversations with health professionals, friends and partners. Just a heads up, guests may share their personal views about treatments and health management. But please remember, this is not medical advice and you should always follow the advice of your clinic team regarding your health.
    Sam: Hello, everyone, and welcome to the CFStrong podcast. My name is Sam and today we have Bryce, Bryce would you like to introduce yourself.
    Bryce: Yeah, absolutely. I'm on the man. I go by he/him. I am 33. I'm a secondary science teacher, I teach chemistry as kind of my major area. And I have cystic fibrosis.
    Sam: Lovely to have you on the show. Can you just start by kind of talking to us about your job and how did you kind of figure out that teaching was what you wanted to do with yourself.
    Bryce: Um, I've always kind of known that I wanted to help people, I didn't really know what that really looked like. I spent a lot of time just thinking about how I could go about helping people. And that kind of changed over time. As I kind of went through high school, I kind of thought about all the different options. And I thought that maybe nursing or being in the police force or something, is something I could do. But with my condition, I didn't think either of those two kinds of things were kind of best suited to the work that I would end up doing. So I ended up switching to-- I really enjoyed science was the main big thing. I really, really enjoyed science had some great teachers, and it's just kind of how my brain works. Not very good at English, any of those kind of written works. And so I kind of moved towards that way. And I just said, how could I help people and I think teaching people, I think I had something to give, and something to offer to others. So that's how it all started.
    Sam: Excellent. So just going back to what you were saying, do you think that obviously having cystic fibrosis is a quite a big thing to consider when you're looking at their career path, do you believe that really affected how you went about, say, looking for a career?
    Bryce: This is an interesting thing, I think I was quite privileged to have a really, really supportive household as I grew up, and not to say that other people don't, I just think I'm very lucky. I was kind of brought up with the mentality that regardless of my condition, I'm going to be here forever, like a normal person, and I was treated accordingly. And the expectations were that regardless of my condition, I'll need to be exercising regularly, I'll need to be, you know, doing all the things that everybody else was doing. And that included work. The main consideration was more about what germs could I pick up. And so something like nursing, which I was really interested in having a bit of a background in science just wasn't going to work just because of the exposure at the time. And it just didn't seem like the right thing for me. It could have been, maybe, but it just wasn't going to work.
    30 min
  • Podcast: CF and the NDIS
    CF and the NDIS
    In this episode of the CFStrong podcast we speak with Ben from Trusted Care, a subsidiary of CF Queensland, about the NDIS. We explore what the NDIS is, how people with CF are accessing support from the NDIS and what advice Ben has for anyone thinking about applying for the NDIS.
    ”It's about educating people in the NDIS. That's real advocacy, helping people become educated and better equipped to understand and learn the way to speak about the NDIS, the way to approach the NDIA, the way to access all of that. It's all an education process for people. Advocacy is education in my opinion. And it's a really important part of the NDIS. Ben, Trusted Care
    Transcript
     
    Voiceover: Welcome to the CFStrong Podcast. CFStrong covers the successes and challenges faced by those living with cystic fibrosis. You'll hear first-person stories, conversations with health professionals, friends and partners. Just a heads-up guests may share their personal views about treatments and health management. But please remember this is not medical advice, and you should always follow the advice of your clinic team regarding your health. 
    Kirby: Hello, my name is Kirby. I'm the digital content producer at CFStrong. And I'm joined today by Ben Smith, the head of business development at Trusted Care, a subsidiary of CF Queensland for a discussion all about the NDIS. Ben, thank you very much for joining us today. Perhaps you could introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about Trusted Care. 
    Ben Smith: Thanks Kirby. Yes. So, I started with Trusted Care late last year. So, Trusted Care was created by Cystic Fibrosis Queensland, and what they saw was a need for NDIS service provisions within the cystic fibrosis community. So how it's broken up into work with the cystic fibrosis community is that the service provision side of it, so our support services and any direct service that we work within the NDIS and with participants, it's rolled out across the whole of the NDIS sector.  
    So, any person can work with Trusted Care. However, at the same time, a lot of our services are aimed at the cystic fibrosis community. So, when the idea was first created, and when it was implemented, a lot of the services, which is a little bit of a mishmash of services for a provider, it was actually based on the cystic fibrosis community and the needs in that area.  
    So, all of the revenue that's raised through Trusted Care goes directly back into the charity, Cystic Fibrosis Queensland. And aside from the NDIS service provisions, there is a lot of work that goes on within the cystic fibrosis community around the advocacy to actually access the NDIS. 
    So, unfortunately for a lot of people with cystic fibrosis, it's been a struggle to actually access the NDIS. So, what Trusted Care, what myself is here for is actually to create a bit of an avenue to gain some understanding around the NDIS. Not everybody with cystic fibrosis is going to be able to access the NDIS, but there is a really large cohort that should really have access there.  
    So, it's working with the community to kind of give them a little bit of a better understanding around the NDIS, and what improvements in their life they can actually gain from NDIS funding. 
    Kirby: Let's talk a little bit about the NDIS. I'm going to ask you a really big question so, feel free to give me a very simple answer. What is the NDIS? 
    Ben: The NDIS, well, it's an acronym, the NDIA love in acronyms. So, the NDIS is the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is overseen or governed by the National Disability Insurance Agency. So many years ago, the disability services were governed state by state. So, each state had their own disability funding, and they would grant those funds to various providers within their own state.  
    The NDIS is a federal scheme. So, it works in every state and territory, and it doesn't matter what state or territory you are...
    25 min
  • Podcast: CFPhysio on exploring the huff
    CFPhysio on exploring the huff
    This episode of the CFStrong podcast is thanks to our collaboration with CFPhysio. Sit down with experts in their field, Dr Brenda Button, Kathleen Hall, and Esta Tannenbaum, physiotherapists who have worked with individuals with CF across the lifespan, and learn more about huffing. This technique is integral to all airway clearance in CF. Understanding more about what is being achieved in the airways when performing this technique will empower you to develop a huff that works for your airways. This is suitable for healthcare professionals and individuals with CF.
    ”The ears are, as physio's, our most valuable tool, but they also need to be the individual with CF or the parent and caregiver’s most valuable tool when they're not in clinic with us and knowing what they need to be listening for. Jen, CFPhysio
    Transcript
    Jen Hauser: Hello, and welcome to the CFPhysio.com and CFStrong collaboration podcast series. My name is Jen Hauser. I'm a physiotherapist with almost 20 years’ experience in cystic fibrosis care and the project lead for CFPhysio.com. Together with CFStrong, we have joined forces to bring to the CF community real life insights and personal experiences on all things physiotherapy and CF.  
    CFPhysio.com is a not-for-profit organisation. Striving to deliver evidence-based education in CF physiotherapy management to healthcare workers and individuals impacted by CF. CFStrong is a website designed to inform, educate, and empower adults impacted by CF through the sharing of individual's personal journeys of living with CF.  
    We hope you find some value from listening to the podcasts we bring to you in this series. Please remember the content is not intended to replace your usual healthcare. Please discuss any concerns or questions you may have with your healthcare team. 
    Jen: Today I have three physiotherapists in the studio with me to have a chat about the huff, the forced expiratory technique, and how we can use this technique to change the airflow in the airways to more effectively shift secretions, to check in with your lungs and to sweep the airways surfaces.  
    I'd like to introduce Dr. Brenda Button, a physiotherapist who has had three decades of experience working across the lifespan in cystic fibrosis. Brenda is currently working at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne Australia. Brenda has areas of interest in research and clinical expertise, including gastroesophageal reflux, urinary stressing incontinence, exercise testing, and more. Brenda is an advanced airway clearance instructor recognised internationally for her work.  
    We also have Kathleen Hall, a physiotherapist with over 20 years' experience working with adults with CF and non-CF bronchiectasis. Kathleen is also a senior lecturer in cardiothoracic physiotherapy at the Australian Catholic University, and also has a bespoke private practice catering for non-CF bronchiectasis and disordered, dysfunctional breathing. 
    We have Esther Tannenbaum, a physiotherapist who has worked for over 25 years in the area of respiratory pediatrics, which has included working at children's hospitals in Cape Town, London, and is currently working at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. Esther's main areas of interest has been CF, PCD, bronchiectasis, and acute respiratory disorders.  
    What a great opportunity for those in the CF community, individuals with CF, parents and care givers and healthcare professionals to have these three experts in the studio today, and really looking forward guys to hearing some audio of huff techniques and listening to what you can share with us. 
    Brenda Button: Thank you very much, Jen, for your introduction of all of us. I'm going to kick off by trying to describe to you what the airways look like and what happens when we do huffing from low, mid and high lung volumes.  
    So, imagine a piece of blank paper in a horizontal posit...
    41 min
  • Podcast: Scott on fatherhood and CF
    Scott on fatherhood and CF
    In this episode of the CFStrong podcast, we speak with Scott about being a dad, his journey to fatherhood and his advice for others thinking about having a family of their own.
    This podcast was published in June 2022. If you would like to share your story, please contact us at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you and so would our listeners.
    23 min
  • Podcast: CFPhysio and Alex on parenting with CF
    Alex on parenting and CF
    This episode of the CFStrong Podcast is thanks to our collaboration with CFPhysio. Dive into the second chapter to “It Takes a Village” with Alex and Dr Benda Button. Alex once again shares with sensational vulnerability, courage and honesty her journey being a mum. Alex has amazing insight, and she has learnt over time, and with reflection the importance of prioritising her oxygen first when parenting.
    ”You can't compare yourself to other parents who don't live with a chronic illness because it's such a different experience. —Alex
    ”I absolutely love being a mother, but I really need to have that balance of being both. I feel happiest when I am a parent, but I'm also working. —Alex
    Transcript
    Jen Hauser: Hello, and welcome to the CFPhysio.com and CFStrong collaboration podcast series. My name is Jen Hauser. I'm a physiotherapist with almost 20 years' experience in cystic fibrosis care and the project lead for CFPhysio.com. Together with CFStrong, we have joined forces to bring to the CF community real life insights and personal experiences on all things physiotherapy and CF. 
    CFPhysio.com is a not-for-profit organisation striving to deliver evidence-based education in CF physiotherapy management to healthcare workers and individuals impacted by CF. CFStrong is a website designed to inform, educate, and empower adults impacted by CF through the sharing of individual's personal journeys of living with CF. We hope you find some value from listening to the podcasts we bring to you in this series. Please remember the content is not intended to replace your usual healthcare. Please discuss any concerns or questions you may have with your healthcare team.  
    It is my great pleasure to have Alex and Brenda back in the studio today. Alex shared with us earlier in the year her journey with family planning and pregnancy and CF and how this impacted or changed her physiotherapy regime for her. And today she's chatting with Dr. Brenda Button, esteemed specialist physiotherapist, who has worked across the lifespan in CF. And they'll continue to talk with Alex about the journey through to kindergarten and life with Ruby. So, Brenda and Alex, it's fantastic to have you back again today and I'll hand over to you guys. 
    Brenda Button: Thank you, Alex, for coming along and let's start off talking about the newborn period. If you want to tell us all the details around how that was for you. 
    Alex: Yeah, sure. So, as I mentioned in the last podcast, I had a really fantastic pregnancy and I thought that I was very prepared for the newborn stage and it was very shocking, I think, to say the least. So obviously, I was so delighted to have a healthy baby and I had a really good labour, but I think I wasn't prepared firstly, to be, I guess, a patient while also becoming a mother.  
    Obviously, we know that that happens after labour that you're not just going to remarkably bounce back and be fine, but I really struggled with just the physicality of birth. I guess like the pain of it and then the shock of then having to look after somebody else and having to sort of manage the needs of my CF and then also the changes of my body from birth and then also on top of that, look after another human being. And I think, I don't know whether any amount of listening or reading can ever prepare you for that until you actually go through it.  
    But yes, I definitely found the newborn stage very, very challenging. And I think sometimes when I look back at that time now, maybe in some ways I experienced a bit of postnatal depression and I really found the hormonal changes quite extreme.  
    I actually remember sitting in the hospital—so, I only was in the hospital for three or four nights.
    38 min
  • Podcast: James on staying active and sharing his CF story
    James on staying active and sharing his CF story
    In this episode of the CFStrong podcast we speak with James about growing up with four brothers, keeping active and playing sport and what helped him to open up about and share his CF story with his teammates.
     
    "I kept it a secret, you know, as much as I could from pretty well most people... But then when I got towards 27 I started slowing down a bit more again. And that's when I started to open up... It actually worked out pretty well. And I do probably wish I probably did say it a bit earlier because you should let other people know and things like that because the support you get from them is absolutely amazing."
    —James
    Transcript
    Voiceover: Welcome to the CFStrong podcast. CFStrong covers the successes and challenges faced by those living with cystic fibrosis. You'll hear first person stories, conversations with health professionals, friends, and partners. Just a heads up, guests may share their personal views about treatments and health management. But please remember, this is not medical advice. And you should always follow the advice of your clinic team regarding your health. 
     
    Sam: So, my name is Sam and today I'll be your host and with me today is James who is sharing his CF story and challenges it presented. James stayed fit and healthy through his life by playing sports and keeping physically active. So, James would like to tell us a bit about yourself. 
    James: Thanks, mate. Happy to be here. Yeah, so 31 years old. Electrician, currently with my own business. Three older brothers. My second oldest brother actually has CF as well. But yeah, I've played footy, cricket, all that sort of stuff. I mean, I'm the youngest of four. So, by the time I was born, my oldest brother was already playing under 9s footy. So, I was, I was born with you know, with a footy in my hand you know, tennis racquet, cricket bat and everything like that. So, yeah, I played footy a lot of my life and sports and yeah, I guess that's sort of what, what's helped me along the way, but I thought I'd jump on board here now that I've got to a little bit older and share some of my stories. 
    Sam: Yeah, excellent. So, you were saying the youngest of four?  
    James: Correct.  
    Sam: And which brother has cystic fibrosis? 
    James: The second oldest one.  
    Sam: Yeah. Okay.  
    James: Yes. Scotty my other brother who's, he's turning 40, the big fossil is turning 40 this year and Jase is 39 so one year below that.  
    Sam: Yeah. 
    James: And then there's another brother in between there, Adam and myself.  
    Sam: Yeah, cool. Okay.  
    James: So poor mom. She had four boys.  
    Sam: Yeah. Yeah, that can be a challenge. I'm one of four as well.  
    James: Oh right.  
    Sam: So just at the, just want to start at the beginning. So what are your main motivations to get into sport because as someone being born with CF, especially as a parent, I'm sure they can be quite hesitant to let you like, let their child go out into the sporting world because they're unsure about how the CF will impact them and stuff like that. So what was your main motivations and how did you really get thrown into the world of sport? 
    James: Well, I guess I suppose I didn't have a choice.  
    Sam: Yeah, right.  
    James: No matter what. All three of my brothers were all playing footy, cricket and stuff like that. Dad was president down at the local club and so was, and Mum was running the canteens. So every every Saturday or Sunday, I was down the club anyway, so I really didn't have too much of a choice, but I just loved being active mate. We've always you know, fished in the summer, played cricket, you know, played footy.
    25 min

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CFStrong covers the successes and challenges faced by those living with Cystic Fibrosis.