Katrina defies odds to reach 40 (From Western Telegraph)

Katrina defies odds to reach 40

The Pembrokeshire branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust is celebrating a double anniversary - the 40th anniversary of the formation of the CF Trust and the 40th birthday of Tenby patient, Katrina Field-Thomas.

This was a birthday that Katrina's family had never expected to see for, in 1964, little was known of this life-threatening condition and the young sufferers rarely lived beyond infancy.

When she was only six months old her condition was recognised by a chest physician from Australia, where knowledge of CF was then more advanced.

From then on she has received dedicated care from local doctors as well as at Carmarthen, Glangwili and the Heath hospitals, and, now, during regular check-ups at Llandough

At the same time, Katrina, who is the youngest of five children, had the best possible support from her parents John and Betty Lewis and, at difficult times, her father (her rock, she says) would give her strength.

"You've got to keep going", he stressed. "You don't give up." Sadly John died three years ago.

Frequent illness meant that Katrina missed a lot of schooling and when she was 13 she left Greenhill School to have home tuition from Mrs Llewellyn, a retired schoolteacher from Stepaside. And it wasn't too long before romance blossomed.

Katrina had known Gavin Field-Thomas most of her life, but the couple got to know each other better when they shared an ambulance as they both went to Glangwili hospital for treatment.

"I know I've been lucky to get this far and I'm just so grateful to everyone who's helped me", says Katrina. "I miss my Dad, but my Mum is there for me and so is Gavin. Some days are a real struggle and I do sometimes worry about what the future holds but I won't give up and it's so good to know that the children born now with CF have the benefit of new treatments."