OCEAN Grove\u2019s David Wynne says his dad often says jokingly, \u201cif I knew you were going to live this long, I wouldn\u2019t have sold your bike\u201d.<\/p>\n
David has Cystic Fibrosis and when he was born, doctors told his parents that he wasn\u2019t going to live longer than a year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the way through my life I\u2019ve been told, \u2018you\u2019ve only got five years left\u2019, \u2018you\u2019ve only got another five years left\u2019, and here I am at 49,\u201d David said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t feel any different, unless I try and race someone and then get out of breath after a few minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time.<\/p>\n
The average life expectancy for people living with CF today is 37.5 years.<\/p>\n
Originally from the UK, David met his wife Sarah, who is a nurse, during a hospital stay about 18 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cI met Sarah and then thought how could I get married if I\u2019m not going to be here?\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then we got married and Sarah said she wanted kids, I thought how am I going to have kids if I\u2019m not here?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Edward was born I was over the moon that I had a healthy son, but I was also scared because I thought I wouldn\u2019t see him grow up.\u201d<\/p>\n
David, Sarah, and Edward, 13, moved back to Australia five years ago for a better way of life.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment I\u2019m quite well, I\u2019ve only been really ill twice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I am only a cough away from going downhill \u2013 I think this is the one that\u2019s going to finish me.\u201d<\/p>\n
David said his lung function was currently at 34 per cent, so he could be listed on a waiting list to receive a lung transplant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was younger I thought I\u2019m not going to do that, but now I have Edward and if it comes along, I\u2019ll go for it\u2026 it\u2019s on its way.\u201d<\/p>\n
David said he wanted to give hope to parents of children with Cystic Fibrosis, as he was living proof they too could live a longer life.<\/p>\n
The Cure Cystic Fibrosis Gala Dinner 2018 will be held in May to help make CF stand for \u201cCure Found\u201d.<\/p>\n
The dinner will be at The Pier Geelong on Saturday May 19, with all proceeds going to the Cure4CF Foundation.<\/p>\n
The night will include fine food, fabulous entertainment, live and silent auctions, VIP guests, and fun.<\/p>\n
Denis Walter will MC the night, which will feature guest speaker Derryn Hinch.<\/p>\n
To buy tickets, visit trybooking.com\/book\/event?eid=346066, phone 0414 713 916 or email cfgeelong@gmail.com.<\/p>\n
Follow \u201cCystic Fibrosis Geelong Fundraising Events\u201d on Facebook.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
OCEAN Grove\u2019s David Wynne says his dad often says jokingly, \u201cif I knew you were going to live this long, I wouldn\u2019t have sold your bike\u201d. David has Cystic Fibrosis and when he was born, doctors told his parents that he wasn\u2019t going to live longer than a year. \u201cAll the way through my life […]<\/p>\n