9Feb

Cystic fibrosis: Mum bought Kmart drying rack to hang feeding tube needed for baby

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The heartbreaking story behind this $25 'Kmart hack': Mum inspires hundreds after her baby boy was diagnosed with an incurable condition

  • Teagan Richards' child was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF)
  • Logan is now seven months old but was diagnosed at just six weeks 
  • The Queensland mum recalls 'shocking' moment she was told the news

By Carina Stathis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

When Teagan Richards shared a snap of her $25 Kmart hack to a Facebook group she never expected to reach so many grateful parents.

The Queensland mum-of-three's youngest son Logan, seven months, was diagnosed with life-threatening disease cystic fibrosis and recently needed to be fed through a feeding tube.

She posted a photo of herself using the Kmart buy to hang the feeding tube from to help other parents and was delighted by the response she received. Unsurprisingly, her simple yet powerful post stood out among the banal feed of snaps.

Logan was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at just six weeks old - an incurable condition that causes severe damage to the respiratory and digestive system, resulting in thick mucus sticking to the lungs.  

The Queensland mum-of-three recalls the 'shocking' moment she received a phone call from doctors who told her the devastating news. 

Brave little Logan (pictured) was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at just six weeks old

Aussie mum Teagan Richards had only ever heard of the condition once. To feed him with a feeding tube, she needed to buy a $25 hanging rack from Kmart

Brave little Logan (pictured, left) was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) at just six weeks old. Aussie mum Teagan Richards had only ever heard of the condition once. To feed him with a feeding tube, she needed to buy a $25 hanging rack from Kmart (right)

'I was walking into my daughter's school for school pick up and received a call from a private number they explain that his Heel Prick test had come back positive to him having the CF genes,' Teagan told FEMAIL. 

'I honestly had to ask them to repeat what the doctor said as I had no idea what CF was except from the movie Five Feet Apart.' 

Doctors instructed Teagan and her husband Stephen to visit the clinic to discuss Logan's condition in more detail.

Feeling shocked and in disbelief, she wondered if doctors had it right before the realisation set in. 

'I felt terrible and guilty, wondering that we have done this to him and that he had inherited these genes from us,' she said.

Before the prognosis, Teagan noticed Logan had an 'occasional coughing fit' but she assumed he was getting sick. 

He's also the first in their entire extended family to be diagnosed with the condition. 

'We had no idea that he had CF or that it was even a possibility - he was a healthy, 4kg baby,' Teagan said.  

Before the prognosis, Teagan (left) noticed Logan had an 'occasional coughing fit' but she assumed he was getting sick. He's also the first in their entire extended family to be diagnosed with the condition (pictured: the family)

Before the prognosis, Teagan (left) noticed Logan had an 'occasional coughing fit' but she assumed he was getting sick. He's also the first in their entire extended family to be diagnosed with the condition (pictured: the family) 

What is cystic fibrosis (CF)?

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a serious genetic condition that causes severe damage to the respiratory and digestive systems

This damage often results from a buildup of thick, sticky mucus in the organs

The most commonly affected organs include the lungs pancreas liver intestines 

If you have CF, a genetic mutation increases the thickness of mucus and other body fluids. 

When this happens, the thicker fluids can interrupt the function of organs - like the movement of air through your lungs. This can trap bacteria and lead to infections

Source: Healthline 

The brave little boy's genes are so rare doctors couldn't help but ask the couple if they were related.

'Logan's gene combination is really rare due to having the same gene combination twice to the point doctors asked if me and Stephen were related, which we differently are not!' Teagan said. 

The couple also have two older daughters - Scarlett, seven, and Gracie, three - and through blood tests doctors found Scarlett was a carrier of the gene while Gracie isn't. 

After being discharged from the hospital at 5:30pm Teagan realised they had no way to feed Logan through a feeding tube, but quickly devised the clever idea to use a drying rack from Kmart. 

'I was running around Kmart like a crazy person because Logan was due for a feed in 30 minutes and I couldn't find a single hat/coat rack, then I came past the clothes drying rack and thought to myself that this would be perfect,' she said. 

'I got home, put it together and it worked great.'  

At the moment Logan feeds every three hours and doctors say he has a 'good gene combination' so the CF likely won't affect his lungs as severely or as quickly as other mutations

At the moment Logan feeds every three hours and doctors say he has a 'good gene combination' so the CF likely won't affect his lungs as severely or as quickly as other mutations 

Trikafta: Landmark PBS listing for Australians with cystic fibrosis 

Australians with cystic fibrosis now have access to a new treatment following the listing of Trikafta® on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) which will make an enormous difference to the lives of those who suffer from the disease.

In Australia, one in 2,500 babies are born with cystic fibrosis and there is currently no cure.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections. The condition is caused by genetic defects that limit the flow of chloride and water through cell membranes, resulting in a thick, sticky build-up of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs and over time limits the ability to breathe and makes it easier for germs to grow.

The medication works by improving the flow of chloride and water in patients who have a certain genetic defect and helps improve lung function and breathing.

Without PBS subsidy, around 1,900 Australians would pay more than $250,000 a year for access to the drug. This treatment is out of reach for most Australians, and now that it will be available on the PBS, patients will only pay a maximum of $42.50 per script.

At the moment Logan feeds every three hours and doctors say he has a 'good gene combination' so the CF likely won't affect his lungs as severely or as quickly as other mutations. 

'CF is different in everyone but Logan has inherited the 'Good' CF Genes - R117H / R117H, PolyT7,' Teagan said. 

Teagan wishes to thank the staff at Gold Coast University hospital for the amazing treatment with Logan and getting him back to where he needs to be. 

She also encourages others to support the Cystic Fibrosis Queensland Facebook page.

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