Michelle Shore, a 46-year-old solicitor from South Yorkshire, has secured funding from NHS England for Kaftrio, a triple-combination therapy, after fearing she would never take a deep breath again. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at eight months old, Michelle's lung function had dropped to 34 per cent at her worst, leaving her reliant on oxygen tubes and unable to walk around her house without breathlessness.
Diagnosis and Early Life
According to the NHS, CF is a rare inherited genetic condition that causes breathing and digestive problems, and there is currently no cure. Michelle described her childhood as 'manageable' thanks to medication, physiotherapy and physical activity. She recalled a doctor's advice to 'flip all of that on its head' by encouraging a normal diet, exercise and even buying her a trampoline.
Her health began to decline in her 20s, with hospital admissions increasing to up to three times a year during university. She experienced breathlessness, wheezing, and a croaking voice that could disappear for weeks when she was particularly ill. At one point in her 20s, she lost her voice for six months.
Setbacks and Determination
In her 30s, Michelle learned she had two rare genetic mutations, meaning she could not benefit from modulator medicines. She later developed an infection called mycobacterium abscessus and contracted Covid. In March 2024, she was told she was not eligible for a lung transplant, which she described as feeling like she had 'been thrown into the sea'.
Despite these setbacks, Michelle refused to give up. She began contacting charities, laboratories and clinicians for help, eventually securing funding from NHS England for Kaftrio in December 2025.
Life-Changing Treatment
In 2025, Michelle started her own heavily monitored individual trial of Kaftrio. After a month, her lung function increased to 60 per cent, and her inflammation and infection markers fell to a normal level. She was able to take a deep breath for the first time in months, started sleeping through the night, and no longer experienced 'coughing fits'.
Michelle has since returned to work and is set to become the chairwoman of trustees at Cystic Fibrosis Trust. She told PA Real Life: "At my worst, it felt like I would never have a deep breath again… but I refused to accept that there were no options left for me. Now, I think we need to raise awareness and ensure that nobody is left behind."
Raising Awareness
CF affects more than 11,000 people in the UK, according to Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Michelle emphasised the importance of togetherness in the CF community, saying: "It's every part of the CF community – the clinicians who wrote back to me, the doctors who supported me, Cystic Fibrosis Trust that gave me the information – and it's that togetherness that made a difference."
