by Rachel, 17

I've had bronchiectasis since I was born and I've been in hospital a lot with it. Bronchiectasis is a non-contagious lung disease which damages the airways and the airways can no longer clear mucus out of the lungs. 

When I'm in hospital I have to have intravenous antibiotics to fight the infections living in my lungs. I have to do daily physiotherapy to clear the sticky mucus from my lungs – if I don't it will just get infected.

MRSA got in my bloodstream

It didn't bother me much when I was younger; I was just a normal kid with a chesty cough. But in the past two years my health has suffered. I started catching chest infections a lot more than usual. I had to have an IV port fitted under my skin for permanent use because my veins couldn't handle the cannulas and regular antibiotics.

But I caught MRSA two months after having my port fitted and it had to be removed because the MRSA got into my bloodstream. I've still got MRSA now and I can't seem to get rid of it. I could no longer keep my oxygen levels up and now I'm on permanent oxygen.

Lung transplant assessment

I had to leave college because I couldn't keep up with the work through being in hospital all the time and walking from one room to another became hard work. I’ve got an electric wheelchair and a stair-lift fitted at home because the stairs became impossible. My lung function then dropped to 18% and I was assessed for a double lung transplant.

The assessment was scary. I had so many tests and met so many new doctors, nurses and surgeons on the ward. I was there for five days of nonstop tests – I had over 15 tests for the assessment. I was then accepted on the transplant list. I was happy but scared. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I know the survival rate post transplant isn't good but I'd rather have a few years of good health than put up with what I have now.

So I'm still waiting for that call to go and get new lungs.

This story may have been edited by Children First for Health for editorial and confidentiality reasons only.

For more help and information:

• If you would like to know more about bronchiectasis, please contact the British Lung Foundation. You can visit the website or call their helpline on 020 7688 5555.

Copyright © Great Ormond Street Hospital