Why Access to Trikafta is About More Than Medicine: Lauren’s Story

For the past two years, Lauren has been hospital-free – a milestone she never imagined possible before starting Trikafta. Now in the final year of her teacher education program, Lauren dreams of inspiring students. She’s a YMCA camp supervisor and recently co-chaired the Toronto Walk to Make CF History. From the outside, life looks bright. But behind closed doors, Lauren lives with the knowledge that time is running out.

Trikafta has been transformational for Lauren and many others in the CF community. As her medical team emphasizes to her, “Continuity of coverage is critical to maintaining good health.” Lauren is fearful of a potential future without it – one where her health slowly deteriorates before her and prevents her from pursuing her dreams of becoming a teacher.

“It is very difficult to think of a time in the future when I will not be able to access Trikafta,” she shares.

Luckily, Lauren hasn’t been forced to sacrifice essential care, but that doesn’t mean it has always been easy. From Ontario, she’s had to pay out of pocket for services not covered under OHIP+, a provincial program that provides drug coverage for people 24 and under but does not cover dental care or physiotherapy or other essential services. Other times, she’s had to put a pause on her studies when another unexpected hospital stay occurs.

“Living with cystic fibrosis isn’t just about managing a disease – it’s about constantly navigating a system that often decides my future before my body does.”

Lauren has lived with CF for 24 years. She remembers what it was like before Trikafta – fighting for every breath and organizing her life around treatments. Now, she sees inequities across Canada where some people with CF still wait for access to life-changing therapies because of their age, province, or insurance coverage.

“When access to life-saving medications depends on your postal code, your age, or your ability to pay out of pocket, it sends a clear message: some lives matter more than others. We’re not asking for miracles. We’re asking for fairness, for consistency, and for a healthcare system that truly puts patients first.”

Lauren’s message is clear: “Don’t make access to life-changing therapies a privilege. Make it a right.”

Lauren knows firsthand that hope exists because of community support. “Monthly donors are the heartbeat of our community,” she says. “When you give monthly, you’re not just donating – you’re showing up consistently for people like me. You’re helping build a future where CF stands for Cure Found.”

With your support, we can ensure that people with CF across Canada have consistent access to life-changing therapies like Trikafta – not just for a few years, but for a lifetime.

Become a monthly donor or learn how you can advocate for fair drug access today!