Living Longer with CF - Meet John

John Matheson is 70 years old, and he’s living proof that life with cystic fibrosis (CF) doesn’t have to follow a script. Diagnosed at the age of 62, John has spent the past eight years learning how to manage his health while also refusing to let the disease define him. John’s health challenges began in childhood, with repeated infections. At 21, he was hospitalised with pneumonia and underwent a sweat test for CF, which came back negative. In those days, genetic testing wasn’t available. It wasn’t until decades later — after learning he was born without vas deferens, a common indicator of CF — that the picture began to make sense. By his early 50s, his health was worsening. Referred to the Alfred Hospital, John met with Professor John Wilson. After a detailed review of his long medical history, Wilson suspected CF, and this time, the diagnosis was confirmed. “The test came back positive, which was a bit of a shock at the time,” John recalls. “But things finally made sense.” #CysticFibrosis #CysticFibrosisAwareness #LifeWithCF #CFWarrior #LivingWithCF #CFStrong #CFCommunity #CFtogether