With no natural immune system, Hills mum has fight on her hands

TARA FLANNERY is brave and positive as she continues to live without a natural immune system — something most of us take for granted.

Tara Flannery with her daughters Riannah 19, and Alyssa 13. Flannery has Common Variable Immune Deficiency and is promoting the first fundraiser for Immune Deficiency of Australia in Sydney on October 7. Picture: Justin Sanson

• It's burger time in The Hills

TARA FLANNERY is brave and positive as she lives without a natural immune system most of us take for granted.

The Beaumont Hills teacher has to watch everything she does. She has chronic fatigue, needs to sleep early — lest she does not get enough rest — and avoid large gatherings.

She runs the risk of becoming resistant to antibiotics because she uses antibiotics for a large portion of the time.

Tara Flannery has Common Variable Immune Deficiency but remains positive.

Mrs Flannery, 46, was diagnosed when she was 37 with CVID (Common Variable Immune Deficiency) having been sick for years.

Mrs Flannery is now promoting the first Sydney dinner dance hosted by the Immune Deficiencies Foundation at the Castle Hill RSL on Saturday, October 7 to raise awareness for it.

“We don’t get any funding from the government and our medications or pumps are not subsidised,” Mrs Flannery said.

“A pump will cost around $4,000 and my health fund refuses to cover for the pump., although they cover diabetics pumps.

“I have chronic fatigue, I have to go to bed very early to cope the next day.

“If I go to bed too late or not get enough rest I run the risk of getting sick.”

“I am constantly aware of becoming sick and as a teacher I have had to teach my students to be aware of sneezing and coughing hygienically.

“My students are fantastic.

“My main issue has been employers and friends understanding my fatigue, brain fogs and avoidance of large public places where I may be susceptible to becoming ill.”

Tara Flannery with her daughters Riannah and Alyssa in Beaumont Hills.

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The mother of Riannah 19, and Alyssa, 13, said there were a number of residents in the Hills who also have CVID, which is found in about one in 25,000 people.

“This disease means that I have no natural immune system and I rely on the generous volunteers who donate plasma at the Red Cross blood donation centre,” Mrs Flannery said.

“I infuse once a week using a Nikki-T Pump, which is loaned to me by my immune specialist.”

■ Fundraiser: Castle Hill RSL on Saturday, October 7. Time: 6pm. Ticket: $90/$35 children. Details: 1800 100 198 or [e-mail]