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Living With Cystic Fibrosis™/ Text / Ronnie Grebenyuk / Photography / Cassie Clarke Cystic Fibrosis is a condition, which affects approximately 8000 people in the UK. It is a condition that affects the glands, and results in disfunctioning of important organs such as digestive system and the lungs. Paulina Gorelik is a 22 year old graduate who shares her ‘Real Life’ experience with The Cut, and talks about how CF has affected her life, also she shares ways to think positively about the situation. When and how did you find out you have Cystic Fibrosis? I found out when I was 12, straight after my mum and me moved to England. I was getting very ill and in the country I’m from at the time they didn’t have a clue what was wrong with me. It took the doctors here about 30 minutes to diagnose me. So I actually consider myself a very lucky person, moving here and having the right treatments gave me a chance to have a life, like go to school, travel, and get a degree (I’ve just finished my BA in Fine Art). How do you feel this condition has affected you personally? How has life changed for you when you found out you had the condition? When I was growing up I didn’t really consider myself to be ill, my parents never let me feel sorry for myself and I always did everything I wanted to. I occasionally had to go to hospital for a course of intravenous antibiotics and do physio but it never really bothered me. When I was about 18 my health started to affect me much more, my lung function declined and the reality of a shorter life kicked in. Suddenly I realised that it was a big part of my life and the hardest bit was having to learn how to balance it and try to separate me as a person. Some days having cystic fibrosis makes you feel quite inadequate and it does make you work 4 times harder for things but then again, kind of in a funny way it empowers you. I just had to learn that it is very important to take it one step at a time and accept that some things will come slightly more difficult to me than other people, and that it is absolutely fine as I enjoy everything I do that bit more. What does your daily routine consist of? Doing physiotherapy, using a nebuliser, having different kind of antibiotics all the time. Taking good care of yourself is much harder than just taking a few tablets and, especially when you want to have a normal life and go out and get drunk like everyone else, so I do have moments of complete resentment when I just want to shut the door, join the circus and never look at another tablet for as long as you live. But then I realise that by getting everything right and keeping on top of your treatments you are giving yourself a better chance. How does it affect the people around you? You do find out who your real friends are when you at your worst. You do sometimes worry about how other people see you and if you are a bit of a burden to your loved ones, but I think as long as you accept yourself as you are and if you are there for other people and accept them for who they are, you’ll get the same in return. How has this affected your perspective of life? What have you learnt about yourself as a result of having this condition? As it is a progressive disease I don’t know what the future holds, I do find it hard sometimes as I’m a planner by nature. I may be lucky and have a successful lung transplant and live for many years, or I may not, time will only tell. I had to reprogram the way I approach life and actually I’ve become a more balanced, less neurotic version of myself. I take time now to enjoy things; I try to say yes to every opportunity I am given. You either live your life or you don’t. Also not having to think about saving up for a pension or getting a mortgage gives me freedom to think about other things like going travelling and doing everything I always wanted to do. What piece of positive advice would you give to other young people with Cystic Fibrosis? To look at it as a challenge to yourself, the press tends to dramatise CF which I find frustrating as new parents with children who have CF must find it really daunting and frightening, but medication is improving all the time, a lot of people have successful lung transplants and carry on having a normal life. You always have to remember that life is what you make it.		Issue Four August 2009 Tinchy Stryder Interview Davinche Interview Rose In The Concrete Fashion Kid British Interview Introducing Maluca Comedian Indy Selvarajah Chantelle Clarke Medford Theo Adams Too Much Too Young Debate The Cost Of Plastic Surgery Living with Cystic Fibrosis Shamz In NYC Yolanda Brown Secret To Skank Alternative Fashion Week Devoted T-Shirts Rare Michael Jackson Moments Lawrence Watson Challenging Homophobia Alternative Musicians Rounders 50/50 Horseriding Melo X Interview Zarif Interview Brazen Interview Poppy Interview Displacement Issue Three Aug 2008 Giggs Interview Global Kingdom : What Is Britishness Back To The Old School Fashion Sarah Maple Exclusive Young Comedians Kyza Interview Charlie Crocket Feature Chip Music Feature Lips To The Mic : Female Artists The Chrsiping Debate Rodney Hinds Careers Interview De Tropix Interview Grey Hound Racing Feature Slanguage Feature Real Life Gambling Crazy Cousinz Interview Hard Knock Wife Review Secret Style Histories Riz MC Cover Artist Feature Dels Cover Artist Feature Sofi Donut's Artist Feature Sara-Sham Savari Benoit Pioulard Emily Cummins Interview This Real Life : Smacking Damien O'Brien Interview Issue Two Aug 2008 Reggie Yates Interview Road To 2012 : Olympics Special Road To Carnival Fashion Freedom At A Price Red Hot Interview Nash Money Sneakers Micachu Interview Natty Interview Life In The Marine Corps Parents Meet The Teenagers Young Londoners Meet The Cast Of Adulthood Cyko Logic Interview Fred Butler : Prop Stylist Interview Immortal Technique Review Made In Queens Victor Timofeev : Artist Interview Ricky Powell Interview Twizzle Interview Flywear Feature Top Girl Film Feature Queen Of Nations Not Without My Sister Sky's The Limit Career's Advice Issue One March 2008 Bashy Interview The Cool Kids Lady Lykes Grimes New School Rowdy Superstar Interview The Sound Of Reason Slash Interview Hoxton Vs Hampstead Fashion Young Designers Lucinda Chua Interview Will Kay Interview The Brothers Size Chris Lambert Duane Henry Drug Trafficking Feature Does My Bum Look Big in This Life After Prison Whats Upsetting Our Children MP Julia Goldsworthy Autechre Live In London Hardcore Is More Than Music Media Box Paddington Development Trust The Cut Ica Blog The Cut On Myspace