To mark Cystic Fibrosis Week this week, 30-year-old James Hall from Immingham in North East Lincolnshire has told Sky News that despite the short life expectancy of those living with the condition, he pushes himself to do what he loves.

I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when I was 6 weeks old and because of this, I have never known life without it.

I take around 40 tablets a day as well using a nebulizer to thin the mucus in my lungs and physiotherapy of breathing techniques and chest percussion (patting of the chest to loosen mucus) and I am currently in St James Hospital (Leeds) on IV antibiotics five times a day on top of that to fight an infection.

Despite all of this I view myself as one of the lucky ones.

I have very few friends that have Cystic Fibrosis for two reasons.

We have to be segregated due to the danger of cross infection and the friends that I have met online are unfortunately no longer with us due to this unforgiving condition.

Luckily my family and my partner make the 150 mile round trip to visit so it doesn’t feel as lonely as it could.

When I am not in hospital CF impacts me daily whether it’s from dodging smokers and vape which are hazardous to CF patients to the constant pain of having kidney stones, passing 61 in total – I used to name them and now I’ve ran out of names!

I’ve always tried to look on the bright side of living with CF but there are moments too which really effect my mental health.

In 2013 I began treatment on ivacaftor – a breakthrough drug that only works on 7% of the CF population. It changed my life.

I have always tried to remain well besides a few admissions due to lung collapse or pneumonia.

But my lung function was dropping and I was 23 but after taking ivacaftor my improved lung function has allowed me to live my life.

My family have always done lots of fundraising which has seen them abseil the Humber Bridge and I’ve also raised money in abseiling Manchester United’s Old Trafford as well as the 300 feet of Grimsby dock tower. My mum is doing an open water swim this year to raise more funds for the CF trust.

I have always used the statistic of low life expectancy to really push myself and to do what I love which is perform.

This decision was made after receiving treatment for coughing blood and realising life is too short to not do what you’re passionate about..especially a CF life.

And now I am a freelance professional actor, performing and touring family theatre and street theatre all over the UK, even if it means always performing on painkillers to get me through.

I’m still living my dream.

My only goal at the moment is to make it out of hospital in time to perform at Glastonbury this year in the Kidzfield with Rhubarb Theatre.

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