Design Bay Jewellery is passionate about giving back and making a difference. We have partnered with Make-A-Wish® Australia to deliver life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
We are proud to donate 5% of all profits in support of a beautiful boy named Christian, who is living with Cystic Fibrosis.
Almost 11 years ago, Naomi and Greig shared a most incredible moment – the birth of their first child, a beautiful baby boy named Christian.
What was supposed to be the happiest moment of their life soon hit an unexpected hurdle.
You can help Christian experience the life changing power of a wish.
CHRISTIAN’S STORY
Naomi and Greig said Christian, their precious newborn son seemed fine when he was first born.
“There was nothing to really indicate that there was an issue with Christian,” Naomi recalls. “He wasn’t putting on weight like he should have been, but other than that he seemed ok. Then our newborn screening test results came back and that’s when it showed up.”
Cystic fibrosis.
“We were absolutely distraught when the diagnosis came through. Christian was taken straight to the cystic fibrosis clinic and that’s where our journey started.”
He was just 16 days old.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition in which the body makes very thick sticky mucus. The mucus causes problems in the lungs, pancreas and other organs.
Currently there is no cure. The average life expectancy of someone living with cystic fibrosis is around 40 years.
From just the seventeenth day of Christian’s life he has been taking the equivalent of 25 tablets a day and receiving hours of physiotherapy. And that’s on a good day.
Christian’s mum, Naomi says Christian has taken over 100,000 tablets in his life.
A regular day in Christian’s household, is anything but normal.
“Christian’s day starts at 5:45am when he gets up and has his Ventolin. He then inhales a drug to try to clear his airways. This is followed by his first bout of physiotherapy, and then enzyme replacement capsules with his breakfast,” Naomi tells me.
“We have to be very careful with his diet as well. He needs a very high calorie, high salt, high fat diet to help with weight gain.
“He follows breakfast with salt and vitamin tablets, as well as aerosol mist inhalations via a nebuliser to help open the airways. This is all before he goes to school. When he gets home, we do it all over again.”
Christian has to fit all of this in every single day as well as homework and spending time with his parents, younger sister Jasmine and friends.
“His sister, Jasmine, came along when he was 3. It’s been hard on Jasmine… but they are great mates and it’s Jasmine who he asks for when he is unwell in hospital. She is a great support for him during tough times.”
Naomi, Christian’s mum
One of the best forms of treatment for cystic fibrosis is exercise, as it helps slow the decline in lung health, so it’s important that Naomi and Greig fit some form of activity into Christian’s already jam-packed day.
Finding a safe activity that Christian enjoyed was a challenge all on its own. That’s because kids with cystic fibrosis need to be very careful around organic matter like soil and mulch and dirt as it can contain certain bacteria that can trigger the cystic fibrosis and lead to lung infection and possible hospital admissions.
“Christian is full of beans, he squeezes every last drop out of every day. He’s just a boy that never stops,” says Naomi.
“When Christian was 8, one of his friends introduced him to BMX riding. The rubbery tracks they use for BMX riding is much better for Christian, and he loves it! It’s really good for his health and fitness as well, riding gives his lungs a great workout, which is important for his cystic fibrosis.”
It’s an activity that Jasmine enjoys as well, giving the close siblings extra time to spend together.
So what else could a BMX-loving boy wish for, other than a brand-new BMX bike with all the trimmings?
“We’re so happy with Christian’s wish,” Naomi told me. “It’s his wish and it’s all about his happiness – he goes through so much every day and we just wanted him to choose something that he would truly love.
“Ultimately the wish will help with his health as well. So, to be able to combine his love of BMX with the positive impact on his health. It’s such a great wish.”
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