Local families living with cystic fibrosis were celebrating the newly approved availability of the drug Trikafta in Manitoba.

Janelle Dawson, along with the rest of the cystic fibrosis (CF) community, has been fighting for two years to get the drug first approved in Canada and now in Manitoba.

Dr. April Lussier with son Ethan and husband Ross Schellenberg“I think I'm still in shock because, like I said, we've been fighting for so long. And now it's here and there's so many emotions, but I'm just so thrilled.”

Dr. April Lussier, a research development officer at the University of Manitoba, has been advocating for access to the drug since 2019. Lussier’s three-year-old son, Ethan, was diagnosed with CF during newborn screening.

“I'm almost speechless. It's such great news. There's so many people in the cystic fibrosis community in Manitoba that can benefit from these modulators. It’s great to have the opportunity to see people live their best quality of life and see their increase in well-being on these medications.”

Trikafta can mean a whole new lease on life for those suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Dawson describes how the genetic disease affects the lungs, digestive systems and other organs.

“The main problem is our body creates mucus which interferes with our body functioning properly. So our lungs get constant lung infections and then eventually a respiratory failure comes into effect.”

Janelle Dawson and her brother Tyler Funk both have Cystic Fibrosis and have fought for Trikafta together."Trikafta is the single greatest innovation in cystic fibrosis history and it has the power to transform the lives of thousands of Canadians," says Kelly Grover, President and CEO, Cystic Fibrosis Canada. "The CF community in Manitoba has fought long and hard to get this drug into their hands. Access to Trikafta will mean longer and healthier lives for so many people, and the ability to plan for a future that many feared they might not live to see."

Lussier became emotional when asked what this could mean for her young son.

“It gives us a lot more hope for the future, for Ethan living an average, normal everyday life. He has the opportunity to grow old, live a healthy life and be a contributing member to society and have all those milestones that we were a little hesitant to wish for.”

Dawson has been eagerly watching others experience the benefits of the drug.

“A lot of people who are on it already, they don't cough anymore, they've been able to gain weight, their lung function has gone up. There's just so many possibilities of increased health and I just can't wait to get on it and see how it works for me.”