Former CBBC star Chelsie Whibley fears she might not live to see her family again as she battles a terminal illness during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 28-year-old former actress suffers from cystic fibrosis – a condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system leading to lung infections and problems digesting food.
Due to her existing health condition, Chelsie – who starred in CBBC shows including Dani’s House and Sadie J – has been ordered to isolate amid the ongoing COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Cystic fibrosis has no cure and sadly causes life expectancy to be cut short, and Chelsie fears she now won’t live to see her family face-to-face again as she is quarantining indefinitely.
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday’s Fabulous magazine, Chelsie said that she felt the short time she has left is being stolen from her by the pandemic and is heartbroken she has to hide herself away from the people she loves the most.
She said: “I know that seeing my friends and family is too dangerous and it could be enough to tip my body over the edge.
“But on the other hand, I don’t know how much time I have and it breaks me knowing I can’t see them.
“I love them all so much and I just want to be with them because I know I don’t have long left.”
Chelsie relies on an oxygen supply to help her breath due to her lungs functioning below the level of those with healthy lungs.
She said she worries she won’t be able to bond with some of the younger members of her family before she loses her life to her illness.
She said: “I’ve got a month-old nephew who I haven’t met and I do worry I never will. I fear that I won’t have time to make memories with my nieces and nephews and that they won’t remember who I am”.
Chelsie’s lungs have become so heavily scarred by cystic fibrosis that they are now only functioning at 25 per cent and the former actress has to take 60 pills per day to fight the illness.
While the hospital unit she would normally be treated with has been commandeered to the coronavirus fight.
Chelsie has been sharing her progress with a YouTube vlog called My CF Life where she shares updates about living with the disease.
A recent video showed her celebrating her birthday while in lockdown with her husband, Glyn, and her mother, Pam – who has been permitted to move in to help provide care.
The video shows Chelsie's family surprising her with a cake decorated with fondant models of her four cats Gabe, Giz, Milo and Minnie.
She added a message to fans in the video: "Make sure you are keeping each other safe and keeping yourself safe. As always, breathe easy."
