NRL cheerleader Savannah had a 'normal' life... Until she made a devastating discovery in Dolly magazine
From the outside, Savannah McKell seemed to have a picture-perfect life.
But behind closed doors, the former Newcastle Knights cheerleader was secretly battling a life-shortening condition.
'People often looked at my life and saw a fairytale - I was cheerleading, modelling and taking glamorous Instagram pictures... What they didn't see was me coughing up blood between cheering, managing life-threatening lung infections, and silently battling cystic fibrosis,' Savannah told FEMAIL.
When she was born, her parents were given the devastating news that she might not live past her teens - and if she did, she would likely only reach her early 20s.
Her parents kept her life relatively normal, shifting the focus away from her illness so she could simply enjoy being a kid.
From the age of 20, she began experiencing more frequent infections and health complications. But it wasn't until she was 24 that her condition took a terrifying turn - after she suffered an episode of hemoptysis, just hours before her engagement party.
'The day I started coughing up cups full of blood was the scariest day of my life,' Savannah recalled.
'As I was rushed to the emergency room, all I could think was I'm not going to get to say goodbye or 'I love you' to my parents or make it to my wedding and marry my husband... The party was at the back of my mind and I just went into survival mode.'
Savannah has been living with the incurable disease since she was six weeks old.
Growing up, she remembers having a 'beautiful' childhood, even as she navigated life with cystic fibrosis (CF) - a genetic disorder that causes an abnormal build-up of thick mucus in the lungs, airways and digestive system.
'My family kept my diagnosis very positive and almost pretended it didn't exist to me as I was so young and unable to comprehend,' she said.
'I had an amazing family, and we'd spend as many days as we could by the beach to soak up the salt, which helped my CF. I had a lot of extra hospital visits and treatment I had to do but my mum always tried to make them as enjoyable as possible.'
Dolly discovery
Savannah was never fazed by her diagnosis - until she came across a confronting detail in the teen magazine Dolly that revealed the soul-crushing reality of her life expectancy.
'It was devastating. I knew I was "more prone to getting a cold, cough and flu" but I didn't know my CF came with a very dire life expectancy,' she recalled.
'Finding out at 12 years old - from reading Dolly magazine - that I was nearly "halfway" through my life had a profound effect on me.'
After reading the article, she made the decision to keep her condition a secret.
'I chose to keep my CF private in the early 2000s. With the life expectancy being what it was, I didn't want the stigma of being "the sick girl" or that "she was going to die soon",' she said.
'I wasn't ashamed of having CF but I never wanted it to be the talking point to my friends, peers, classmates and just everyone around me.
'Growing up is hard enough without already being labelled as 'different'. I just wanted to be Savannah, not Savannah who has CF.'
Her childhood with CF was so normal that she didn't really worry about her diagnosis until she read something about the life expectancy of someone living with CF in Dolly magazine
As a child, Savannah knew she was 'different' because of the number of hospital visits she had compared to her school friends and other kids her age.
'Some of them said they'd never been to hospital before, yet I was going once a month for clinics and yearly needles, and needing antibiotics all the time for a "cold",' she recalled.
'The clinic visits when I was young were very traumatic with tubes being shoved down my throat and multiple blood tests, and antibiotics... no five-year-old should have to endure stuff like that so young.'
Defying odds
As she got older, the life expectancy for people with cystic fibrosis gradually increased to around 30 years.
However, Savannah, now 29, has received promising news after defying all odds - thanks to medical advancements, research and a breakthrough prescription drug called Trikafta.
'Life expectancy has increased drastically and continues to increase every day. While it's in no way a cure, it's a big step for cystic fibrosis sufferers. It's now almost double the life expectancy to 60,' she said.
What many people didn't see was that Savannah was struggling behind closed doors -coughing up blood between cheerleading and managing life-threatening lung infections
How you can help make a difference
May is the month of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness.
Savannah is sharing her story in support of CF Together.
She is hoping to help raise awareness and funds for Cystic Fibrosis research.
You can donate here.
'Trikafta has completely changed my life. I can now go months, if not years between antibiotics, IVs, hospital stays and clinic visits. Something that used to occur monthly.
'I'm not constantly clearing my throat or coughing up thick mucus, I can now take deep breaths and have clear lungs. It also allowed me to fall pregnant naturally which never happened before Trikafta.'
Before discovering the life-extending drug, Savannah experienced fertility issues while trying to get pregnant - likely due to her condition.
Baby joy
She and her husband conceived their first son Elijah via IVF.
'Carrying a pregnancy was the hardest challenge physically, as the strain on my body and health was incredibly hard,' the young mum said.
'The only thing that got me through was the beautiful baby boy I was fighting so hard for.'
Three months postpartum, Savannah contracted an infection called B. cepacia, often referred to as a 'death sentence' for people with cystic fibrosis.
This scare prompted her to start Trikafta after a year of hesitation.
Savannah kept her CF a secret from most people for many years due to stigma and a desire to be seen as 'normal' but she has become more open about her condition - especially after having her son
'The thinning of mucus from Trikafta not only cleared my lungs but cervical mucus too, allowing to conceive naturally, something we had tried for many years with no success without IVF,' she said.
Thanks to advocacy by CF Together, she now has access to the life-saving medication - something she attributes to giving her the best years of her adult life.
Highs and lows
Savannah said her condition is now 'very stable'.
'I live 99 per cent of the time a somewhat normal life minus the pills every day and extra precautionary clinic visits. My new life expectancy is promising and I can look to the future without as much fear,' she said.
Despite thriving at 29 with a second baby on the way after conceiving naturally, she still struggles with the 'constant mental noise and fear of decline'.
'While we have advancements and fancy new drugs, it still only takes catching one bad bug to completely bring your whole body and life down, as well as the mental side,' she explained.
'CF means taking pills every day, with every meal, since the day I was born - and that hasn't stopped.'
What is cystic fibrosis carrier testing?
Cystic fibrosis carrier testing is a genetic test that will help to identify if you have changes to the CF gene.
The test involves providing a blood or saliva sample and requires a referral from your GP, obstetrician, geneticist, or gynaecologist. There are around 2,000 gene changes that cause CF, and a typical CF screening will identify the most common CF gene changes in Australia. However, there is still a small risk that you may be a carrier of a rare CF gene change.
If you have a family history of CF, it is important to tell your GP, obstetrician or gynaecologist before providing your sample for screening. This will ensure that you are being tested for the most common CF gene changes as well as the specific gene change relevant to your family.
Making the decision to know your CF carrier status through genetic testing is a choice only you can make. Knowing whether you are a carrier can help inform you of your reproductive options.
You can discuss your CF carrier screening options with your GP, obstetrician or a genetic counsellor.
On November 1, 2023, reproductive carrier testing for cystic fibrosis, fragile X syndrome and spinal muscular atrophy was made available for every eligible Australian, thanks to two new Medicare item numbers, allowing people to make more informed choices regarding family planning.
The test can be ordered before pregnancy or early in pregnancy.
Savannah said she's now enjoying living a 'slow, nature-filled life'.
'I'm raising my family without any fear for the future. Something as small as going for a swim at the beach is such a blessing for me and I want to spend the rest of my life just appreciating every second,' she said.
For couples looking to start a family, Savannah urges them to get a genetic blood test before trying to conceive.
'CF is genetic but I advise couples looking to start a family to please do a genetic blood test before falling pregnant. My parents had no idea they were carriers and it's surprisingly more common in Australia than you think to be a carrier,' she said.
By sharing her story, Savannah wants every young person living with cystic fibrosis to know that their diagnosis does not define them.
'It should never stop you from chasing the life you dream of. Never listen to any one that doubt you or wrap you in cotton wool because of your disease,' Savannah said.
'I chose to keep my illness private growing up, but I've learned that strength doesn't come from pretending everything's ok... it's from being honest and proving people you can do all of this while fighting something so horrific.
'I share my story now because I wish, as a little girl, I had seen someone like me thriving despite their diagnosis. Appearances don't always reflect reality.
'You truly never know what someone is going through behind the scenes. You should always prioritise your health for those who weren't as blessed.'
According to CF Together, nine out of 10 children diagnosed with cystic fibrosis are born into families without any prior history of the condition.
In cases where there is no family history, both parents of the child who is born with CF must be carriers of the gene change that causes CF.
One in 25 people are estimated to carry the gene changes that can cause CF, and most people are completely unaware they are a carrier.
CF carrier screening testing is available to help you and your partner find out whether you are among the one million Australians who carry the CF gene change.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I hit rock bottom after spending $300,000 on booze, designer bags, shoes and so-called 'friends'. Here's how I turned my life around
An Aussie woman has recalled the horrifying cycle of abuse that landed her in $300,000 of debt and how she finally broke her destructive spending habits. Liz Porter, 54, hit rock bottom after seven years of spending her $4,000-a-month income on partying, clothes and designer bags while failing to pay her bills and sinking further into crippling debt. Ms Porter turned to spending as a way to cope with the abuse she suffered at the hands of boyfriends as well as being conned out of money by so-called friends. Today, Ms Porter is an IT manager in Australia's health sector and a proud home owner in Melbourne 's Docklands, an achievement which seemed impossible when she was declared bankrupt at the age of 28. The 54-year-old explained how her problems spiralled because she had low self-esteem, which began while she was at school. 'I was made to feel stupid, I even had teachers tell me that I will never amount to anything so I spent a lot of my younger years believing I was stupid and that everything I did was my fault,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'When you feel bad about yourself you attract people that are not good for you and I had relationships that were abusive. They used to tell me I was fat, ugly, disgusting.' When the abuse turned violent, Ms Porter turned to spending. 'The only way I could ever feel good was buying frivolous stuff to make myself feel good,' she said. The 54-year-old admitted periods of spending coincided with moments in her life where she felt worthless. She recalled a horrifying incident with an ex-boyfriend who pushed her down the stairs and then accused her of being 'clumsy'. 'Even old school friends would come into my life and they'd rip me off, take advantage of me and get money out of me,' she said. In one such incident, Ms Porter's friend tricked her into signing a lease for a three-bedroom property and then refused to pay her share. At her lowest, Ms Porter was spending her $4,000-a-month income on clothes, shoes and bags, admitting she now has 'nothing to show for it'. She turned to alcohol and food for comfort, and ended up weighing 130kg at her heaviest. Over the course of seven years, Ms Porter's spending racked up to over $300,000. 'I would spend, spend, spend and then think "I haven't got money for rent",' she said. Ms Porter struggled to tell her family her spiralling debts as she feared her loved ones would think she was 'stupid'. After being sexually and violently assaulted, Ms Porter finally opened up to her family who advised her to speak to a counsellor. 'When I spoke to a counsellor about the abuse it was like opening a can of worms and initially my spending habits worsened because I was so upset and I needed to feel better about myself,' Ms Porter said. The counsellor suggested she see a financial advisor and she was subsequently declared bankrupt at the age of 28. With $40,000 worth of debt, she first entered into a Part IX debt agreement, which is an alternative to bankruptcy for individuals struggling to repay their debts. After paying back $10,000, Ms Porter's counsellor said her debts were taking too great a toll on her mental health. They advised the 'broken' Melbourne local to file for bankruptcy, a legal process where you're declared unable to pay back your debts. In Victoria, bankruptcy typically lasts three years and one day. Credit reporting agencies keep a record for five years from the date of bankruptcy or two years after your discharge, whichever is later. Ms Porter said her counsellor's belief in her completely changed her mindset. She rebuilt her life and landed a job as an IT supervisor at Telstra, where she quickly rose through the ranks. Years later, she took voluntary redundancy and used the money to enroll in a financial management course. After believing she would rent for the rest of her life, Ms Porter was shocked to learn that her consistent rental history, strong income, and savings from the redundancy made her an ideal candidate for a mortgage. Ms Porter went on to get a new job and bought a unit in Melbourne Docklands, the same area where she had rented for 13 years. The 54-year-old is now looking to the future and hopes to retire early, something that would have seemed impossible when she was younger. She stressed the importance of being kind to yourself during hardships and 'learning to love yourself' and realising 'you're stronger than you think you are'.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside the tragic downfall of former Sydney society 'It' girl as she hits a new low - after she was accused of shocking forgery scam
The glamorous life of a former celebrity stylist and one-time 'It' girl of the 2000s has potentially unravelled after she was arrested for allegedly forging prescriptions. New Zealand-born Kelly Smythe, 47, was charged earlier this month at Surry Hills Police Station in Sydney 's inner east. She spent the night in custody before appearing before Downing Centre Local Court via video link last week, when she made a release application while being held on remand. Smythe, who lives on Australia's most expensive street in Point Piper, was charged with two counts of using a false document to obtain property and two counts of obtaining or attempting to get a prohibited drug by false representation. A charge sheet showed Ms Smythe allegedly used a false letter and two fraudulent scripts to get dexamphetamine and lisdexamfetamine from the Paddington Compounding Pharmacy on Oxford street in February 21 and May 15. Dexamphetamine medication is used in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy (sleep disorder) while Lisdexamfetamine treats moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder in adults. Smythe's barrister Charles Alexander lodged a release application on his client's behalf. 'She knows she needs to stay on the straight and narrow,' he told the court. Magistrate Sharon Freund said the police facts indicated there may be further charges pending, but no fresh charges had been laid. The magistrate granted bail but addded: 'I suspect your client may have an issue with the drugs she has been self-prescribing.' Smythe, who wore gold-rimmed sunglasses during her video-linked court appearance, said: 'Thank you so much, ma'am.' The case will be back before the court next month. At the height of her career she was a Seven Network stylist and the go-to fashion adviser to Sydney's elite, styling Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Hawkins, Jodi Gordon and Sonia Kruger. But after five years at the helm of the wardrobe styling department, Seven cut ties with her. With the local fashion industry teetering on the brink of collapse, Smythe struggled with freelance work and former friends say she vanished from the limelight. She tied the knot in 2011 with Alex Nikolaidis, ten years younger than her, at St Mark's Church, in the ritzy eastern suburbs enclave of Darling Point, in front of clients and Sydney's society set including Roxy Jacenko, Holly Brisley and Chris Bath. She was known for living life in the fast lane before take a step away form the limelight several years ago The couple welcomed a son, who is now 14, a year before saying 'I do'. They are now divorced. On Wednesday the petite stylist was seen stranded on New South Head Road in Sydney's east after her car ran out of fuel and required NRMA roadside assistance. She was dressed in low-rise jeans, furry flats and designer sunglasses.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Australia Kelpies win Test series against England Thorns
Australia's men's netball team won the Aurora Series after dominating England Thorns in a 62-30 victory at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham to take a 2-0 series, which is the first Australia have contested in England, consists of three lost the opener 63-34 at the Copper Box Arena in London on 25 May and were well beaten in Saturday's second encounter.A dominant last two quarters by Australia sealed the success and the series, although the hosts were competitive at the first-quarter score was 12-9 in favour of the visitors and it was a similar story in the second quarter as good work by James Firminger kept England within touching distance. But Australia's Kelpies stretched their lead to 27-15 at the break and took command in the third quarter to move 47-21 men only played their first international match in 2022, while their opponents have been competing on the international stage since the that experience and quality showed as the Kelpies, led by the impressive Josh Byron, extended their lead in the fourth third and final Test will take place on Sunday at the Copper Box Arena.
