‘Miracle’ drug that gives MAFS star Lyndall Grace 40 more years

Lyndall Grace was told she wouldn’t live to see her 40th birthday – but just three days after taking a new drug, “everything changed”.

She’s the MAFS bride who is looking for love after being given a second chance at life.

Lyndall Grace, 27, revealed her life expectancy had been bleak after being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) aged just three weeks during Married At First Sight’s 2023 premiere on Monday night.

One in 2500 babies are born with the “life-limiting” genetic disorder in Australia, according to Cystic Fibrosis Australia.

The condition primarily affects the lungs and digestive system, causing an abnormal amount of excessively thick and sticky mucus that eventually leads to irreversible damage and lung failure.

While there’s currently no cure, those living with the condition were thrown a lifeline when a new drug Trikafta – which significantly enhances the life expectancy of someone with CF — entered the market.

New MAFS bride Lyndall Grace is living with cystic fibrosis and was only expected to live until her early 30s. Picture: Channel 9/Lyndall Grace

But there was a huge problem – the medication was widely expensive, averaging between $250,000 to $300,000 a year, which put it out of reach for most.

Thankfully, this changed for many when Trikafta was placed onto the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in March 2022 – bringing the cost of the “miracle” drug down to $6.80 per script.

For cystic fibrosis sufferers like Lyndall, it quite literally saved their lives.

“This new drug makes the lung cells work like they’re supposed to,” she explained on the cult reality dating show.

“It’s meant to add decades to the life span. The day I started [taking it] my lung function was down to 60 per cent.

“I had a real hearty cough and I could feel my lungs and how inflamed they were.”

The 27-year-old was diagnosed when she was just a few weeks old. Picture: Channel 9/Lyndall Grace

But after being able to access a ‘miracle’ drug she can expect to live 40 more years. Picture: Channel 9/Lyndall Grace

Within just three days of taking the medication, Lyndall said she had improvements in her health.

“I noticed my voice came back fully, everything was coming up and clearing out, and now I wake up in the morning with a clear cough.”

For a young woman who had believed she would die in her early 30s since she was a teenager, when the true extent of her condition “hit” her, it “changed everything”.

“Before this drug existed, I had resigned myself to the fact that I was never going to get married,” she explained.

“But now I can go for a run or play hockey and not have to worry about puffers. It’s insane.”

Her quality of life before taking Trikafta involved daily use of nebulisers and often resulted in hospital visits. Picture: Channel 9/Lyndall Grace

But she said now ‘everything’s changed’. Picture: Channel 9/Lyndall Grace

Prior to Trikafta being developed, Lyndall’s day-to-day life involved a rigorous routine to maintain her health, including the use of nebulisers and medication with every meal.

“Sometimes there’s hospital admissions too, it just varies for each different person,” she said.

Lyndall shared her joy at receiving Trikafta, a combination drug that helps affected cells function better, explaining she “ugly cried” at the news.

“So, I got a call yesterday. On the 31st of May, ya girl is taking her FIRST DOSE OF TRIKAFTA,” she wrote on Instagram in May 2022.

“Please enjoy this video of me ugly crying after finding out Trikafta was approved, and then think about how much ugly crying is still yet to come.

“I can’t believe I’ve only got six more days until these lungs go from crusty, to trusty lungs.”