Paul O’Farrell and fiancee Sarah together at a recent family function. The couple will be full of happiness and joy when they are married this Saturday.Right: Paul was featured in the Gazette 15 years ago with his parents Debbie and Peter O’Farrell.By Callan Date
WHEN Paul O’Farrell appeared in the Gazette as a 13yearold back in July 1991 his life was marred by continued visits to hospital and the uncertainty of a life living with cystic fibrosis.
Fast forward 15 years and the Bunyip resident will walk down the aisle this Saturday to marry the love of his life and start a new chapter that has already seen so many ups and downs in 27 years.
Paul has twice been told he had only six months to live and at times throughout his life his lungs have restricted him to only the most basic tasks.
While his friends were able to take part in sport and pursue activities that all teenagers love to do, Paul struggled to even walk short distances and constantly needed bottled oxygen to survive.
“Life was looking pretty much uncertain at that time in my life and I was given about six months to live,” said Paul.
Through a resilient attitude, along with the love and support of a tight knit family, he was able to fight back from continued setbacks to get through his teenage years.
But on entering the young adult stage of his life a lung disease started to take hold of Paul again and the simplest of things became a struggle.
“I needed a special machine to just be able to sleep at night, I was constantly in a wheel chair to get around and needed a constant supply of oxygen to breathe properly,” said Paul.
As a 21yearold few have to face the prospect of death but it was a reality for Paul as his condition continued to get worse.
“I knew it was my time,” he said.
Paul was put on a waiting list to receive an organ donation and his hopes were high when a compatible donor was found and the doctors decided to operate.
But that hope was soon dashed as the medical team made the last minute decision to not proceed and Paul’s life hung in the balance.
“I was under anaesthetic and had the tube down my throat ready to be operated on but there was a last minute decision made to not go ahead with the transplant due to problems with the organs,” he said.
But in late 2003 a suitable donor was found and the double lung transplant went ahead with great success.
“I was really lucky the second time round and have had no complications since the successful transplant.”
The transplant has enabled Paul to live a normal life for the first time ever and he is now preparing to marry Sarah, a girl who has been by his side for the past six years.
“Both my family and Sarah have been a huge support and it has made the tough times bearable.”
Paul now holds a full time job at the National Australia Bank.
Prior to that he had backpacked throughout Europe in 2004 for five months, in a trip that gave him a great deal of selfbelief and the knowledge that he could live independently.
As family and friends gather to witness the wedding ceremony this Saturday, there will be a few tears of joy for a man who has battled his way through life and come out on top.
