Since winning Big Brother Australia in 2003, Regina “Reggie” Bird has used her media personality status to raise awareness and create vital change for the medical causes closest to her.
While Reggie has faced numerous medical issues — she was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition and had a stroke — her son Lucas‘ was also diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF).
Cystic Fibrosis is a chronic illness impacting around 3,500 Australians.
The illness is diagnosed from infancy and can severely impact the lungs and digestive system.
People with CF are often admitted to the hospital multiple times a year and can have a shortened life expectancy.
Big Brother Reggie Bird’s Son Lucas Will See “Life-Changing” Improvements With New Cystic Fibrosis Medication
While the symptoms can be daunting, a drug called Trikafta showed promising results in improving the quality of life for people with CF.
Before that, similar drugs like Orkambi and Kalydeco offers some of those benefits. However, doctors and patients have been reportedly blown away by Trikafta, which essentially combines the benefits of the different drugs together.
Lucas has been taking Orkambi since it was put on the PBS in 2019, which Reggie described as a “bloody awesome blessing”.
The 12-year-old has been able to play more sports like basketball, has seen lung function improvement and has been able to maintain a healthier weight, according to 9Honey in 2021.
The Big Brother contestant also explained that Lucas hadn’t been admitted to the hospital since starting on Orkambi, however, still had to do many of the physical therapy and breathing treatments that are common for people with Cystic Fibrosis.
Reggie Bird Lobbied For Government Subsidies For The Drug
According to Former Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt, around 1900 Australians with CF would pay between $6.80 and $42.50 for the prescription when subsidised by the Government.
The outright cost was more than $250,000 per year for families like Reggie’s — who has two children, including Luca and her eldest daughter Mia with husband Dale Sorenson.
In March, the drug was approved for the PBS and has since been rolled out to some Australians.
A big part of this result was people like Reggie lobbying and sharing petitions for the “next generation” CF medication.
“After years of campaigning and rejection after rejection, it’s finally happening. The future is looking better for Lucas and others living with Cystic Fibrosis. Thank you to those who signed the petition and made a noise [sic],” Reggie wrote on Instagram
So Dramatic! has reached out to Reggie to see whether Lucas has been able to start on the medication.
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