Wheelchair-bound Karis Dean, 32, is struggling in hospital as she waits for Vertex’s Trikafta medication. 

The mother-of-three, of Mansfield, Notts, weighs four stone and her mucus-clogged lungs have only about 16 percent function. 

Karis has pleaded for the unlicensed pill via Vertex’s compassionate access scheme. 

She is being supported by Corrie star Kym, 43, who backs the Daily Express’s campaign to get Trikafta on the NHS. Kym, who played Michelle Connor in the ITV soap for 13 years, said: “Please Vertex, give Trikafta to Karis as soon as possible. 

“She’s a young mum with three kids who is desperate to see them grow up, but with her lungs struggling to work she needs Trikafta as soon as possible. 

“Please join the Daily Express campaign as we fight for sick CFers like Karis to get this amazing new pill. ” 

Karis said: “I have three incredible kids and they don’t deserve this pain and heartache. They need their mummy. I can’t leave them. 

“I need Trikafta to give them their mummy for a bit longer.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has promised to get a life-saving cystic fibrosis drug available on the NHS “as soon as we can”. 

The Daily Express is campaigning for the new wonder pill Trikafta to be made available once it is licensed in Europe this summer. 

The medicine is produced by US pharmaceuticals giant Vertex, whose other CF pills Orkambi and Symkevi are now available here thanks to the Express’s tireless campaigning last year. 

Trikafta, which is superior to the previous two drugs but has not been officially released, is currently only being given out in the UK through Vertex’s “compassionate scheme” for the highly sick. Mr Hancock said: “I understand how important it is to get Trikafta for CF sufferers. Last year, we successfully managed to get Orkambi on the NHS. 

“It’s been wonderful to hear from some people who have had the life-changing benefit of that. We are working with Vertex to get Trikafta onto the NHS as soon as we can.” 

The UK CF Medical Association, which represents more than 200 CF doctors, have urged Mr Hancock to “ensure Trikafta is available at the earliest opportunity”. 

A spokesman said: “The real-life experiences of people with CF receiving Trikafta in America suggests it is life-transforming. 

“Those of us who have been fortunate in having patients participate in the clinical trials for its development have seen a beneficial effect beyond the magnitude that we might ever have anticipated. 

“Many of our patients no longer feel as though they have CF after receiving this medicine. 

“Trikafta has literally been life-saving when obtained through compassionate basis to treat patients with end stage disease. We urge you to continue making all practical efforts to secure early access to Trikafta at a fair price.” 

Since Christmas, the Daily Express has helped several CF sufferers, including Nicole Adams, 28, Michelle Bamber, 37, and Darren Waite, 41, all gain access to Trikafta. 

Nicole was released from intensive care within days and returned home to recover a week later. 

Darren, who had 13 percent lung function, started his Trikafta treatment last week. 

Michelle has yet to start taking her pills but has also been approved under Vertex’s compassionate use scheme.

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