‘Being on oxygen won’t stop me dancing’

Just wear fabulous shoes, darling, and everyone will notice them first.” That was exactly the reaction I needed when I told my friend, Nicki, that I now needed oxygen when I walked or exercised. Suddenly the illness I’d lived with my entire life was about to become very “visible” and my identity was changing. My appearance in public would now be accessorised by a metal oxygen cylinder on my back, 8ft of plastic tubing and nasal cannulas on my face.

I was born with the genetic condition, CF – a life-limiting