Cystic sister's heartbreak - 'I'll never laugh the same way'

Cystic fibrosis sufferer Nikki Reynolds says her sibling could still be here if she’d had access to a life-saving drug

Nikki Reynolds knows how quickly life can be taken from you. She watched her sister lose a battle with her own body.

Now Nikki may be able to live life to the fullest herself, but she's found she's having to fight harder than ever.

When Woman's Day last caught up with Nikki and her older sibling Kristie Purton known as the "Cystic Sisters" - in 2017, their cystic fibrosis (CF) meant they had to stay physically separated so they didn't make each other ill. But their bond was a force to be reckoned with and they were as close as two sisters could be.

Sadly, Nikki now feels alone in her struggle after Kristie passed away in 2019, when her body rejected what they hoped would be a life-saving lung transplant. Both sisters underwent the operation, yet only Nikki, 31, survived.

Some days, she says, the frustration is unbearable. If funding for the drug Trikafta had been approved in New Zealand, there's a high chance Kristie would still be here today.

"Trikafta was around when Kristie was alive - it just wasn't talked about," tells Nikki. "It would've been a much better alternative for her because we know transplants aren't for everyone. For years, Kristie would often battle infections and if another option was offered, we absolutely would've taken it. " It's estimated that 388 Kiwis who live with CF would be eligible for the treatment, which is close to being fully funded in Australia.