Joel Schaeche-Odine, CF Patient and member of the CF Worldwide Junior Ambassador club.

Hi I am Joel,

I was born in Perth in 2002 10 weeks premature.  At 2 weeks of age I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.  I have a little sister Jeslyn, who just turned 6. She loves me very much and likes to be my little nursemaid. She helps me with my Physiotherapy, my homework  and checks my peg to see if everything is ok.  My Dad is Site Manager for Veolia Environmental Services.  He teaches me Muay Thai Kickboxing. My Mum does everything she can to raise awareness for CF.  She has lots of CF Pages on Facebook and loves to lend an ear to CF Mums that need someone to talk to. 

Jeslyn sleeps with Joel, always the little nursemaid.

Jeslyn helps get my medi’s ready every morning and helps me with physio.  She knows how to clean my Mic-Key button and she can even do a Button feed and flush.  I am so lucky to have a sister like Jeslyn, she is my Kuda, that means she is my best friend.  My family gives me lots of love and all the care I need to be strong and healthy.  

Joel meets John Wayne Parr, 6 x 67.2kg World Muay Thai Champion

I am a very active little boy – I love to kick the footy, play cricket and jump on the trampoline, but my true love is Muay Thai.  I met my hero and idol, John Wayne Parr when he came to Princess Margaret Hospital for children in Perth.  We had or picture taken together and I taught Wayne about Cystic Fibrosis and how I fight it every day.   Muay Thai and CF make me a fighter and now I’m fighting for kids who live in developing countries born with CF.

Armenia child with CF receives a free pep device and physiotherapy session from CF Worldwide

I am really lucky because I can visit a CF Clinic and have the best medicines money can buy at low cost to my family thanks to PMH and Abbotts. My CF Clinic has a team of doctors and care givers who know all about CF. My chances of survival are much higher than kids in developing countries thanks to the great health system we have in Australia.
But not all kids with CF are lucky like me. They are born in countries where there are no CF Centre’s, no Doctors who know how to take care of CF patients and no access to necessary medication.  They are dying very young and never have a chance to fight CF.

That’s why I became a Junior Ambassador for CF Worldwide and pledged to help raise 1. 5 million in 5 years through the 5 for 5 campaign. CF Worldwide helps kids born with CF all over the world.  CFW educates doctors and families, lobbies for access to necessary CF drugs and donates CF equipment to patients and hospitals. I know when I support the 5 for 5 campaign I am helping lots of kids like me fight CF.

Please join the 5 for 5 campaign and pledge to donate 5 USD annually for 5 years and ask 5 friends to do the same. Take the 5 for 5 challenge and help fight CF and win!