Shwetha

My name is Shwetha Sree and I live in India.

When my son Vihaan was just 18 months old, he had bowel obstructions twice in the space of two weeks. His doctor sent samples for genetic testing, and we received the news that Vihaan had CF. At that moment, our whole world changed.

Dealing with the diagnosis was difficult. We felt hopeless; emotionally and financially drained. But my husband and I decided that we were going to do everything in our power to make sure Vihaan received the best care possible. We began learning about CF through doctors, the internet and other sources, and slowly rebuilt our lives, moving away from that stage of helplessness. We started to see things in a different way and realised how much the little things matter.

Vihaan is now five years old and has been in good health for the past two years. However, since March last year, he has been falling sick frequently due to tonsillitis and sinusitis. Despite the challenges, Vihaan accepts everything wholeheartedly with a big smile. He is smart, mature, responsible, and creative, and loves doing puzzles, colouring, and reading. He is also interested in cooking, taking photos, and making videos.

Shwetha helps Vihaan with his physiotherapy after a session with the nebulizer.

As a mother, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to care for a child with CF. That's why I advocate for greater access to life-saving drugs. Every family affected by a chronic illness deserves affordable and accessible healthcare.

That’s why I’m part of the global campaign to challenge the monopoly of pharma drug giant Vertex. This company is currently charging a staggering $326,000 a year for lifesaving CF treatment - pricing it out of reach for so many families like mine.

We’re fighting to change that - find out more here!