OPINION: I have this message for all my friends out there with cystic fibrosis:
The fight for Trikafta is over.
It is time to get out there and live your lives.
Look to the future and chase your dreams.
Always believe in the possible.
Today is for everybody with cystic fibrosis (CF). It is for their mums and dads, brothers and sisters, for their family and friends.
It is also for all those who lost their loved ones to this cruel disease before this drug Trikafta came along.
I've met many many people with cystic fibrosis, and many who have found ways to access Trikafta.
They all call it a 'miracle drug' - it changes their life from the very first pill. So for anyone with cystic fibrosis, this is a Christmas miracle. Trikafta will be free! It really is the ultimate gift - the gift of life.
Since the first day I learnt about it I have been determined to help get it to New Zealanders with cystic fibrosis.
It was two-and-a-half years ago that the great medical researcher Sir Bob Elliott got a hold of me and told me about cystic fibrosis, Trikafta and a girl from the North Shore called Bella Powell.
My life changed that day - I was given a mission in life.
Since then I have met or been contacted by most of the cystic fibrosis community and I have always promised them I will fight for them.
The CF community will often thank me for my work on it. I always tell them they don't need to thank me, I am just doing my job.
I have found it quite hard at times, listening to all the horror stories - but obviously nowhere near as hard as living with CF.
There are actually no words to describe what this means to me.
The victory in the fight for Trikafta is by far the best moment of my 22 years in journalism. I'm stoked I got to play a part in it.
I can't wait to see everybody with cystic fibrosis chasing their dreams.
Patrick Gower is Newshub's National Correspondent
