We Be-Lung Together

For years we saw our friend Zuf always full of energy, she's still fun loving, but struggles to be the first to start the party like she used to (she'd give us a run for our money when it came to moves on the dance floor).

Everyone who knows Zuf knows just how kind hearted, loving and positive she is. She would always put her illness of Cystic Fibrosis to the back of her mind and it was never something that defined who she was. She is a strong young woman, despite her illness making her feel otherwise. Sadly, over the last few years Zuf's health has slowly been declining. Her lung function has deteriorated to a point that she had to give up studying her Law degree, she had to give up working and since an unexpected scare in December 2018, when we almost lost her, she had to give up her active social life too.

Zuf is now oxygen dependent and can no longer do the normal things she used to be able to do. It's a struggle to go out with her friends or family and socialise the way she used to. For years she said she wanted to go to Las Vegas for her 30th birthday, but unfortunately, until she has a lung and liver transplant, Zuf is not well enough to travel abroad, (so we brought Vegas to her and celebrated in London instead).

3-5% of CF patients can develop a liver disease and unfortunately Zuf is one of them. She is in need of a double transplant for lung and liver and is currently waiting to be put on the transplant list for both. The last few months have shortened her life expectancy and this operation is vital for her survival. With that being said, Zuf is the strongest person we know and has and will never let Cystic Fibrosis stop her from living her life. She has decided that with the permission of her hospital she wants to climb the O2! This is something that will be super challenging for her but with the help of a few oxygen tanks and her friends, we will be there to support her all the way across. We are pleased to share that Up at the O2 have kindly offered us a climb and have expressed how they are constantly improving their site to accommodate for those with disabilities.

Every year or so Zuf likes to challenge herself and raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis as it’s not a visible disability. Cystic Fibrosis is something that affects around 100,000 people around the world. That’s one in 2,500 babies. It’s something that Zuf has helped educate all of those around her and show them just what a positive and strong person she is. This will be the toughest challenge yet for her as she has not been able to exercise properly since she has been in recovery but it’s a challenge we are determined to help her complete.

We have created this Go Fund Me page to help Zuf gain the life back that she truly deserves! Being listed for transplant can have its complications and if issues were to arise (God forbid) this could risk Zuf’s chance of being listed! If this was to happen this would mean time would be very limited, therefore with all the generous donations from everybody, we hope to contribute towards the funds to send her to America instead for her double transplant. If she is lucky enough to go through the process here in the UK with no complications then the money will be donated between the Hospitals that have helped on this journey including: Lewisham Hospital and  Addensbrooke/Papworth transplant hospital.

For now we will keep this page open for as long as needed in order to raise as much as we can.  Zuf will be climbing the 02 with a helping hand of her close friends on the 9th of July.  An operation of this kind can cost up to 2 Million pounds so this is one step towards it.

Your generous donations are greatly appreciated towards this.  #girlpower #breatheeasy #girlonoxygen