A mum with cystic fibrosis is fighting for every breath while she waits to get on life-extending drugs.
Nicole Adams, 28, from Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, has been left with 20% lung capacity after being rushed to Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital with a temperature.
The young hairdresser’s boyfriend Ciaran McVarnock says her condition has 'broken' her - and is pleading with those who can to 'stop her suffering'.
He told Belfast Live : “I would give this girl my lungs if I could. But the spirit and fight in her I really do honestly believe there will be light at the end of the tunnel."
Nicole said she has been finding it tough in recent weeks.
After years of fighting for ‘life changing’ drugs like Orkambi and Symkevi, the Department of Health finally did a deal with makers Vertex in October - but CF patients are still waiting.
“It’s so hard,” said Nicole.
“I was at the Christmas market on Friday feeling ok and was then rushed to the Royal on Saturday night in an ambulance with a temperature of 39.7."
“I’m not great,” she added. “I’m in a lot of pain and just uncomfortable.
“I was told with my situation I will hopefully get the drugs by end of of my admission so hopefully before Christmas - though I know won’t be able to take them until I am stable.
“I can't be sick when I receive them as they need to observe for side effects.”
Despite her deteriorating condition, Nicole has nothing but praise for those treating her.
“I feel my team have done everything possible for me,” she added. “We were told all those weeks ago we were getting them and then look how I have ended up after doing so well.
“I’ll be getting in it one way or the other but again its not a complete yes... (but) we don’t have time for decision making (about) who is more eligible than others.”
Nicole’s boxer boyfriend, Ciaran McVarnock, said it is hard watching her “struggling to breathe”.
“Please give Nicole the drugs she has fought for, the drugs that have been approved - the drugs she needs,” he said
“Cystic Fibrosis has broke this girl physically and mentally to her lowest point over and over again. Yet there is no sign of giving up. She doesn’t do it for herself - if she did she would have given up already.
“She does it for her friends and her family and all her other CF warriors.
“Cystic Fibrosis has taken so much away from this girl, no one will really understand.
“Some people may imagine what Nicole is going through.
"I’m with her every single day and I will never ever know how it feels to constantly have a real sore cough, cough up lots of thick green mucus that has been stuck to your lungs and airways - take so much medication, tablets and nebulisers every day.
“I know how it feels after a hard round of boxing to breathe but to feel like that 24-7 I will never know.”
Ciaran said the illness has taken so much from Nicole.
But he said she has also been told “you can’t have a lung transplant”.
“Deep down I know I will never ever know what Nicole is going through physically and mentally,” he added.
“She looks beautiful and fine all the time - though inside it's eating away at her body and she is so poorly.
“Stop this girl from suffering!”
A Department of Health spokesperson said they cannot comment on individual cases, but added: “Work is ongoing to develop an implementation plan to provide access to the new treatments which will include an assessment of the clinical suitability of individual patients.
“It remains the intention that the first eligible patients will start to receive the new treatments before Christmas.”
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