Big Brother winner Reggie Bird shares heartbreaking photos of son Lucas battling cystic fibrosis – and says they are ‘taking each day as it comes’
Reggie Bird shared heartbreaking photos of her son Lucas’ cystic fibrosis battle to her Instagram on Friday.
The 46-year-old, who won the third season of Big Brother back in 2003, posted a collage of images of the 11-year-old in hospital with various tubes attached.
In the caption, Reggie said the family are ‘taking each day as it comes’.
Heartbreaking: Former Big Brother winner Reggie Bird shared heartbreaking photos of 11-year-old son Lucas (pictured) battling cystic fibrosis to her Instagram on Friday
‘Living with cystic fibrosis is heartbreaking. We take each day as it comes and keep on fighting this horrible disease,’ she began.
Reggie went on to explain 65 Roses Day on May 28th, with the story dating back to 1965 when a four-year-old, who heard the name of his disease for the first time, pronounced cystic fibrosis as ’65 roses’.
‘Today, “65 roses” is a term often used by young children with cystic fibrosis to pronounce the name of their disease,’ she wrote.
Emotional post: Reggie went on to explain 65 Roses Day on May 28th, with the story dating back to 1965 when a four-year-old, who heard the name of his disease for the first time, pronounced cystic fibrosis as ’65 roses’
No cure yet: Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body. Reggie, 46, is pictured with Lucas
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs in the body.
With no cure for the condition available yet, Reggie takes her son to physiotherapy every day for treatment.
While she is devoted to taking care of her children, including teenage daughter Mia, Reggie is suffering from her own health issues.
Doting mother: Reggie is also a mother to teenage daughter Mia (pictured)
Reggie was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare and hereditary disease which made her lose 90 per cent of her vision.
But in an interview with Woman’s Day in April last year, Reggie revealed she had regained some of her eyesight thanks to medical advances.
Reggie told the magazine that her eye specialist informed her part of her vision could be restored thanks to a ‘groundbreaking’ new procedure.
The procedure involves removing any cataracts developed, followed with something called ‘the piggyback technique’, should it not be successful.
Health issues: Reggie is suffering from her own health issues. She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare and hereditary disease which made her lose 90 per cent of her vision. Pictured on the 2003 season of Big Brother
‘When my eye specialist said there’s a small chance he can restore part of my sight, I couldn’t believe it,’ she said.
Reggie revealed in April it had been three months since she’d had the procedure, and she was due to have another surgery in the near future.
‘It’s like a fogginess has lifted, is the best way to describe it,’ she explained.
‘It still needs tweaking, but we’re getting there. I will never regain my full sight – but that’s okay – it just means I can’t see the increasing number of wrinkles I’m getting!’
Medical advances: But in an interview with Woman’s Day in April last year, Reggie revealed she had regained some of her eyesight thanks to medical advances. Reggie’s eye specialist informed her part of her vision could be restored thanks to a ‘groundbreaking’ new procedure