Dental receptionist, charity founder and sailing and sewing enthusiast, Catherine, 49, Melbourne, leads a busy life, despite battling the genetic respiratory disease, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD), with which she was born.
Outside of work, Catherine helps many Australians through her charity, PCD Australia, which she founded four years ago to provide information, services and activities to improve the welfare of those affected by PCD.
Living with PCD places Catherine at heightened risk of infection, including pneumonia, which she initially contracted at 21 years of age, and then several times thereafter.
This is Catherine’s story.
Due to being born with poor lung health, Catherine is highly susceptible to contracting various illnesses and infections.
Catherine initially contracted a chest infection before her first diagnosis of pneumonia at 21 years of age, for which she was immediately hospitalised.
“After my doctor diagnosed me with pneumonia, I was hospitalised and placed on intravenous antibiotics for the ensuing seven days. I was eventually sent home after 10 days,” said Catherine.
“Contracting pneumonia can be very serious for me, because my immunity is so low which makes it very hard to fight the potentially life-threatening infection.”
It took Catherine a month to recover from her first episode of pneumonia, after which she was forced to take another two weeks off work, and an additional two weeks making a gradual return to work.
“Recovery from pneumonia is not something that happens overnight. It’s gradual and can take a long time to feel normal again,” Catherine said.
Concerningly, contracting pneumonia has become all too familiar for Catherine, who has experienced six additional episodes of the infection, her most recent at age 42. Given her first-hand experience with the infection, Catherine has, importantly, learned to differentiate between the symptoms of flu and pneumonia.
“I now know the difference between the symptoms of pneumonia and the flu.
“With pneumonia, I tend to be much shorter of breath, and develop intense body aches and chest pains that can be sharp and intense,” said Catherine.
Catherine was vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia three years ago, after her specialist informed her about the availability of the pneumococcal vaccine. She subsequently received the vaccine free of charge, as her PCD puts her at heightened risk of developing the infection.
Nowadays, despite living with a severe lung disease, Catherine enjoys an active lifestyle, and is currently undertaking a course in radiography.
Armed with first-hand understanding of the seriousness of pneumonia, particularly for the immunocompromised, she has become a strong advocate for pneumococcal vaccination.
Catherine recommends Australians seriously consider their lung health, particularly those aged over 65 who are otherwise healthy, but nonetheless at risk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia purely due to their age.
“Those who are at risk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia – the immunocompromised and those aged over 65 – should vaccinate against the preventable infection.
“You may not think vaccination is worth it. But you never know what members of your community are living with an underlying medical condition that puts them at heightened risk of contracting pneumococcal pneumonia, especially from those who are not protected against the often devastating infection,” Catherine said.
To coordinate an interview with Catherine, please contact Kirsten Bruce from VIVA! Communications on 02 9968 3741 or 0401 717 566.