by Rachael

My name is Rachael. I'm 15 years old and I have Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

IPF is a disease where your antibodies and your immune system attack your lungs for no reason at all.

I have oxygen at home and have oxygen cylinders to take out with me. I have to take steroids every day to try to stop my immune system, which means I catch lots of other infections.

Is there anyone else out there my own age who has IPF? Nobody else seems to have it, I feel so alone...

This story may have been edited by Children First for Health for editorial and confidentiality reasons only.

For more help and information:

• The British Lung Foundation
• The Cystic Fibrosis Trust

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