condition that was making his sister ill, calling it sixty-five roses.

For local soccer star and cystic fibrosis sufferer Corey

‘Chook’ Bain, 2011 marked the beginning of part two of a cystic fibrosis sufferer’s life, post lung transplant.

Now in his 30th year, Bain looks a picture of health and is working hard on his fitness for a return to the soccer field and cricket pitch for his home town Sussex Inlet.

Twelve months ago, however, cystic fibrosis had put a complete stop to his active lifestyle. Corey’s lungs had become so damaged by the disease he was forced to give up work, move to Queensland to live with his mum and seek specialist medical help that included a lung transplant.

Thankfully a donor was found within eight months and other than a scare with pneumonia during his recovery, Corey didn’t waste any time moving back to the Shoalhaven and returning to work. He is happy to talk about his battle with cystic fibrosis and his plans for the future.

“I was lucky with my CF, I kept active and living down here the fresh air helped me to keep going a lot longer than some CF sufferers,” he said.

“I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at six weeks of age but I didn’t really have my first hospital admission until I was 21 when I got a cold, which led to an infection in my lungs and put me in hospital for two weeks.”

After his first scare, Corey’s condition stayed stable for the next few years thanks to a healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups. However by his mid-20s Corey’s health had started to deteriorate and hospital admissions became a regular occurrence.

“I played sport for as long as I could, probably too long, then about two years ago I just couldn’t play anymore.

“That’s when I moved to Queensland to be with my mum and start the process for a lung transplant.”

Transplant specialist Peter Hopkins put Corey on the list for an immediate transplant and after an anxious eight-month wait, a donor was found.

Corey described the results of the transplant as instantaneous.

“I don’t actually remember the events but apparently I woke up the next day, sat up in bed and ate bacon and eggs for breakfast, which is strange because I don’t eat eggs,” he laughed.

“I do remember walking the hospital aisles and I felt great, everything was going well but then I caught pneumonia and that really knocked me about.”

Corey was returned to intensive care for eight days where his weight slipped to 40kg.

“Afterwards I had to learn to walk again, I couldn’t do anything – even hold myself up in bed.”

Finally discharged from hospital just prior to Christmas he moved back to Sussex Inlet, returned to work and made his plans for the future.

“I still need to work on my fitness; I’m probably about 85 per cent at the moment.

“I’m going to play cricket this year then get back into the soccer next season.”

Corey isn’t cured of cystic fibrosis; he knows it will always be with him.

“There are two parts to cystic fibrosis, the respiratory part which I have had fixed with a lung transplant, then there is the digestive part that you cannot get rid of, I need tablets to digest my food.

“The doctors say it’s an average of 10 to 15 years after the lung transplant before the digestive issues take their toll but there is a woman in the UK still going after 24 years so that is encouraging.”

Corey is not going to sit around waiting for things to happen with his new lungs, he’s going to live up to his nickname ‘Chook’, which his step sister gave to him as a baby when he first started to walk.

“I used to run around everywhere like a headless chook so my step sister christened me with that name and it has stuck ever since.”