Reggie Bird, 44, has spoken about her nine-year-old son Lucas’ heartbreaking battle with cystic fibrosis.
The mother-of-two, who won Big Brother in 2003, revealed that the nine-year-old recently told her he ‘didn’t want to live’ with the disorder.
Speaking during an emotional podcast for WHO magazine, she said: ‘It’s mentally draining.’
‘Mummy, I don’t want to live’: Big Brother winner Reggie Bird speaks about her nine-year-old son’s battle with cystic fibrosis and the heartbreaking words he recently spoke to her
‘At the moment he’s saying, “Mummy, I don’t want to live. I don’t want to live with cystic fibrosis, I don’t want to be here.”‘
‘A little nine-year-old saying they don’t want to live … it’s not good.’
Cystic fibrosis is genetic disorder where sufferers develop ‘excessively thick and sticky mucus within the lungs, airways and the digestive system.’
Heartbreaking: The mother-of-two, who won Big Brother in 2003, revealed that the nine-year-old told her he ‘didn’t want to live’ with the disorder
Treatment: She said her son told her: ‘Mummy, I don’t want to live. I don’t want to live with cystic fibrosis, I don’t want to be here’. Reggie added ‘A little nine-year-old saying they don’t want to live … it’s not good’
With no cure for the condition available yet, Reggie takes her son to physiotherapy every day for treatment.
In the meantime she has welcomed the approval of a new drug, called Orkambi, by the government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
She said the medication will help lessen her son’s pain and visits to the hospital.
Devoted mother: While the mother-of-two is devoted to taking care of her kids, including daughter Mia, 11, Reggie is suffering from her own health issues
Legally blind: Fifteen years ago she was diagnosed with degenerative eye condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa, which has left her with legally blind
While the mother-of-two is devoted to taking care of her children, including daughter Mia, 11, she is suffering from her own health issues.
Fifteen years ago she was diagnosed with degenerative eye condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa, which has left her with legally blind.
‘I only have nine per cent central vision. No peripheral vision, no night vision and I have cataracts as well.’
Claim to fame: Reggie is best remembered for winning Big Brother 2003