Channan Petrides suffers from cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system by clogging your innards with a thick, sticky mucus, which makes it difficulty to breathe.
Channan describes what it’s like to endure the debilitating condition, “Cystic fibrosis feels like having a plastic bag over your head and breathing through a straw so a lot of patients who have transplants have to learn to breathe again because they aren’t used to taking in that much air.”
“I sleep 20 hours a day and I can’t manage stairs anymore,” said Channan. “My lungs rip so I cough up blood, and I’ve been on morphine since November for chronic chest pain.”
Shopping day with twinny pic.twitter.com/LJH3hI5XHC
— Channan Petrides (@xchan_92x) June 2, 2015
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The 22-year-old was diagnosed with the deadly disease when she was just 6-months-old as doctors noticed that she struggled to gain weight and had abnormally salty skin as a newborn.
Channan was recently told by doctors that she has about one year to live. She could have a heart and lung transplant, but doctors told her that there was a chance that she could die on the operating table or the new organs would fail after just six months. Straddled with the critical decision, she rejected getting organ donations and instead focused on using her remaining time to do amazing activities on her now-famous bucket list.
“Nobody could say for sure that the transplant would work,” said Channan. “And I wouldn’t have been able to do anything on my bucket list because of risk of infection.”
“I know I’ve taken a massive risk but I want to enjoy the time I have left, rather than stick waiting to get a call that may never come,” the brave girl explained.
Short hair selfie pic.twitter.com/zDcfMgVW94
— Channan Petrides (@xchan_92x) May 31, 2015
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She created this phenomenal bucket list and has already checked off some spectacular experiences like feeding a lion on safari, going on a helicopter ride, meeting West Ham football team and receiving signed merch from Ed Sheeran.
Had to update #ChannansBucketList #cfaware exciting year for mee pic.twitter.com/wDzNhvlx8j
— Channan Petrides (@xchan_92x) February 10, 2015
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However what may the most extraordinary achievement on her list is raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The organization aims to beat cystic fibrosis and make a daily difference to the lives of people with the condition. She is also working hard to raise awareness about cystic Fibrosis and educate others on the terminal condition. “We really need better understanding of cystic fibrosis and how to treat it.”
“People struggle to believe how ill I am because I don’t look it,” she said. “But the truth is that I do only have a certain amount of time left to live.”
Godspeed to Channan and may she complete every single item on her bucket list and many, many more.
Had the best day! Now I'm ready for bed xxx pic.twitter.com/hT0kIB4anD
— Channan Petrides (@xchan_92x) May 24, 2015
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