INTERVIEW Living with CF

Making the most of now


A milliner from Foxford  talks about life with CF

Mike Finnerty

MEET Katie Moore. She runs her own business, has recently returned from a round-the-world trip, and plans to run a 10k marathon on St Stephen’s Day. She is 24 years old, a dedicated follower of fashion, and, despite the bad weather and even worse state of the economy, laughs and smiles throughout our conversation.
The Foxford resident is a positive, bubbly and engaging young woman who has hopes, dreams and aspirations like everyone else. The only difference is that she also has Cystic Fibrosis.
Katie is one of approximately 50 people in Mayo with CF. It has been a constant companion throughout her life but here, sitting on a sofa in Knockranny House Hotel sipping coffee and talking about her love of music, fashion and books, she is happy to accentuate the positive.
“I was six months old when I was diagnosed with CF so I don’t know any different. My mom always told me I was special,” she smiles. “And I believed her.
“The good thing about growing up with CF though is that it makes you appreciate things like walking and talking. And being able to get up every morning and dress myself. Maybe I wouldn’t appreciate them if I wasn’t sick.”
Katie Moore calls Foxford home now, but she was born in America and spent a large part of her childhood in the Middle East.
The warm weather in Saudi Arabia made living with CF a little easier, and she admits that the damp, wet, cold climate in this part of the world does cause some problems.However, she is much too busy getting on with her life right now to worry about minor details like the weather.
After all, there is work (as a milliner), rest (when the tiredness kicks in) and play (with her boyfriend, Noel, and a large circle of friends) to fill her days.
“I make hats and head-pieces from home but, when it comes to work, I always think I can do more than what I can,” she smiles. “I remember when I was working full-time in a clothes shop in Dublin. It was really busy all the time so you wouldn’t have time to sit down. I never thought anything about it, but when I went to the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, they were horrified to think that I was working a full-time job. That wouldn’t have clicked with me at all. Sometimes I get in trouble because I forget I have Cystic Fibrosis. I have to take things easy, and I’ll have to do that more as I grow older because it’s more likely you’ll develop different problems.”
To the untrained eye, Katie Moore is like any young, upwardly mobile woman in her early 20s. However, she knows that she must continue to do the right things to keep her CF in check.
“It’s very important to have a healthy lifestyle as you get older,” she says. “I go through phases where I’m running or swimming like crazy. I don’t smoke, I don’t really drink, I prefer to spend my money on clothes. Or going out dancing. If I keep fit I’m better able to fight infections.
“When you’re young, you have to do your physio,” she adds. “Even though I know people don’t want to do their physio at eight in the morning before they go to school.
“If you do everything you’re told to do, and take your medicine, things do work out.”
All going well, Katie intends to make something a little special for herself to wear to the Club Stars Banquet next month. After all, life is for living. “I always try and remind myself that there’s always someone sicker than me,” she says. “I’m independent and I’m comfortable in my own company. You grow up faster I think too, which is okay. I’m happy with the person I am.”

The proceeds of The Mayo News Club Stars 2010 will be donated to the Mayo Branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland.