Carmenbreathes

Rare Diseases started a magnificent concept to give recognition to individuals who impact the community of those with rare diseases in a positive way. After nominations closed a few weeks ago, a list of finalists got released where people can now VOTE for their rare diamond/ warrior. These awards have different categories where doctors, caregivers, patients etc. are being awarded for their hard work and continuous perseverance. I have made it to the finalist rounds and it would mean SO much if you can vote for via facebook or SMS.💎

To read more about the awards and what it means to be recognized as a rare diamond/ warrior, follow the link below OR vote for me by SMS’ing the following:

“VOTE” + Carmen Crous
to 36106

Thank youuuu 💕

RARE WARRIOR AWARD

I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 13 months.The Cystic Fibrosis community is very close to my heart and through my own experiences and struggles, I aim to inspire and motivate and support others with CF and their parents.

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HOW TO VOTE FOR CARMEN

Facebook = 1 Vote
Like AND Share CARMEN's profile

Website = 1 Vote
Vote for CARMEN at www.rarediamondawards.co.za

SMS = 3 Votes
SMS: VOTE CARMEN to 36106 at a cost of R5. Unlimited voting via SMS.

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Voting will close on the 15th of August 2018 and the 3 finalists per category will be announced by the 20th of August 2018. The category winner is selected by a panel of judges and will be announced on the night of the awards ceremony - 15 September 2018

So proud of my big sistuuuuur today for reaching a milestone. 1000 hours of stressful and hard working hours behind her. Thanking God today for keeping her wings safe and sound and blessing her with a job that she loves!
Love you - you are a hero and role model. 🏆🚁🕊

SO much fun yesterday at 2018 🏃🏼‍♀️
I woke up filled with energy (something I haven’t felt in a long time) and my lungs felt clear - this was the first indicator that the day was going to be great.
has inspired me for the past year since meeting in JHB in 2017. She represents fitness, health, determination, joy and love all in one. If you know Inge, you’ll know that her workouts are crazy fun and super challenging. At last night, I completed a WHOLE INGR WORKOUT and it felt great. She was amazing and super motivational throughout the exercise and made a night to remember for me!
On completion of a full workout the team congratulated me with a brand new ADI-bag and I was beyond ecstatic!
I felt like sharing this post just because there is SO much positivity and love in this world and all we need to really do is EMBRACE it fully.
Best day EVER. If you ever get the chance, buy your tickets for the next FitNightOut.

Fiancé’s 💕
Celebrating a WOW love story and two amazing people in my life. Words cannot describe my excitement!xx love you guys xx

KAUAI SA | CAMPAIGN 👟

It is such a honor to be apart of KAUAI SA’s 🌸new campaign that’s all about self-love, body-love and just thanking our bodies for working hard and keeping us alive. 💫

My body has probably been through a lot more than it bargained for since the day I was born. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. An imbalance of salts and chloride in my body (or someone with CF) causes me to produce sticky mucus that eventually damages my lungs and digestive system over time and shutting it down.

I sometimes push my body to such limits: pumping Prednisone into it; getting rounds and rounds of intravenous antibiotics 💉 and living with a very low immune system. I forget to love my body during these times and even other times too. Constantly trying to juggle what I’m supposed to eat and what I end up eating is probably the biggest challenge.
BUT, since being apart of KAUAI SA 🥤 I realised the importance of this.
What we put into our bodies will determine our overall well-being and health. And contribute to it immensely. 🥦

I am thanking my body today for getting me to age 22 👵🏻; fighting lung infections chronically 💨; dealing with my Diabetes Mellitus 🍋 and simultaneously giving me the energy and strength to enjoy life and spend time with family, friends and Fourie. 👫

Today I honestly stand by the saying: My Body is Amazing 🏆

The next 2 months is all about being healthy and loving my body more.

SPOILS 😍 from my Adidas Fam 🥂
It has been such a blessed year looking back at the impact and made in my life this past year. Being involved in a life-changing campaign highlighting the strength of women in particular, but also the impact of fitness on anyones life - I feel lucky to have been apart of that and of this family.
It has been one of the hardest years considering my health, but Adidas has been present all the way. Sending me mails, making me apart of great events and meeting long lasting and inspiring friends: and .
Can’t wait for 2018 and all the adventures it will hold! Feeling so blessed and inspired by to continue on a lifelong health and fitness journey!
🥂🍾🙌🏻❤️

What a year it has been. 🥂
7 IV courses (14 weeks) in 10 months | final year of my Bachelors Degree in Humanities | Turning 21 years of age (milestone in itself) | Getting my Vest after months of Fundraising and Prayer | Moving to an Adult Pulmonologist- scariest step ever | Dating my favourite person for 4 whole years | Saying goodbye to fellow CF-sufferers and welcoming new lungs to others |
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It has been eventful to say the least. I’m most grateful today for getting my Degree and having some security going into the “adult world” and starting my own business.
My support structure has been amazing and always and endlessly there for me and all my emotions.
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I can’t wait to start my life as an official graduate. Not many CF’ers finish school or even get the chance to turn 18 - and here I am - ABLE - studying something I loved, and defeating the odds of surviving through a very tough year and exam filled with hospital stays and IV lines.
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Faithfulness has not been proven to me by man this year, but and in Jesus. In times that I felt Broken or Defeated - He gracefully entered my life and made me whole again.
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Cheers 2017 🥂

Today was SUCH a treat. just being surrounded by fearless females and able to share my story as a cystic fibrosis fighter was absolutely amazing. made possible by 🍋🌻🥂

Last day in Hospital 🙌🏻 can’t wait to get into my own bed and have my own coffee cup and puppy-cuddles. I’m on day 5 of IV and still need to continue another 9 days at home on IV’s.
Thanks for all the encouraging messages and love that I’ve received in the last few days. It has been one of the more difficult times in my CF-life and I am so thankful to have the support I do. 🌸
Yay for going home 🏡 and yay for almost being done with my degree.

It’s never too early or too late to work toward being the healthiest you 🌸 || Today has not been the best day ever and I’m constantly reminded by myself that I am also in my final exams for my degree. Studying in hospital when all you want to do is sleep is not the best 😷 but I am also constantly reminded by everyone else that this is just a temporary dip hopefully and that I will recover soon to the healthy me I used to be 🙌🏻
I miss my healthier lungs, come on now lungsies. 🤗

Obviously the best boyfriend in the WORLD 😍
Dankie vir baie drukkies en liefde in moeilike tye ☀️jy’s defs gerate as nr.1 op ALLE platforms xx @ UCT Private Academic Hospital

YAY, this has been the most fun I’ve had in years. Getting excited about things to come, bonding with a very special person in my life 🌸 and sharing our passion for beautiful things. We are officially launching a mini-online shop that will hopefully grow to become a massive, running business that creates awareness for chronic illnesses, but mostly Cystic Fibrosis - which we both suffer from.
The online shop will be open for purchase in November and a catalogue of things to expect will follow soon on our page: 🙌🏻🌸 go check it out!

7 Days Of Dove || 🌸
Yay, what a great trial it has been. In the last 7 days, Dove has inspired me to not only enjoy the product of the Dove Beauty Cream bar itself AND feel the difference on my skin, BUT the self-love feeling and happy skin I finally have.
I can’t wait to see how the Dove 7 Day challenge has helped others to also feel better about their skin, their body and just their innermost being.

My 7th compliment this week would be: I love my skin.

This week I am partnering with in the campaign South Africa. I've always loved watching Dove adverts on TV and the empowerment and awareness they create about and . Going through a tough patch the last 2 weeks of being on intravenous antibiotics, oxygen and fighting to get my lung function back up, I am going to make it my mission to give my body and face some much needed TLC and compliments. Some days I find it hard to love the "me" with Cystic Fibrosis. CF has become such a big part of me since becoming older (and sicker) and I forget the happy, fun, outgoing person that I really am. So, thanks Dove for giving me and others the opportunity to love ourselves, our skins and just who we are.
This week I am using the classic trusted beauty bar from Dove in my journey towards Self-Love and Self-Care.
I encourage you to post a photo this week with your Dove beauty bar and one compliment you would give yourself.
Because I know its hard to be so open on social media, I am partnering with Dove in this and we will have a giveaway! 🙌🏻

Tag and in your post and you could stand a chance to win 1 of 6 double spa vouchers for you and a friend to the value of R2500 as well as a R50 off voucher from Zando when you spend R150 or more. Visit the FB page for Ts & Cs.

Netcare Check-in || 2 Weeks of IV, here I come 👐🏻
For the first time I really am struggling with my oxygen levels and lung function decline and it's been a worrisome time in my life. But I have the best care team and family and Fourie who supports me and keeps me motivated and positive.
YAY for getting healthy again and hopefully recovering from a bad dip in lung function 🤞🏻🌸🙌🏻

So recently I finally got the vest that has changed my life, ALREADY. 🌸
I've been fortunate enough to have never ending support from special people in my life that I recently started calling my friends. At first it started out as a 'loving favour' and turned into a 'lifelong friendship'. from has supported my journey in making my one wish with CF come true: getting a vest. She has been treating me with (what I call) my love language - treats. Even if it's just a facial, neck massage, pedicure, skin care products... she has spoilt me in abundance and makes me forget about CF (even if it's just for an hour).
Love you Nics x

By far the best man in the world 💕
Throwback to the CF Conference this week in Cape Town.

The best evening of my life 🙌🏻
Today I got to put on my VEST for the very first time. Overwhelmed would be an understatement.
Today was the day that I could wear a vest given to me by 100's of people. From generous donations on my 21st birthday to weekly donations being dropped in my bank ☀️ I would NEVER know how to truly thank people for this wonderful gift of life. Not only will this vest possibly prolong my life here on earth, but it will also be a daily memory that I literally carry ON me every day of all the people that love me, twice a day.
In tears I would like to thank every single soul for helping me get this vest. 💕 thank you thank you thank you.

Any donations received after this day will be directly donated to the 💕for research purposes and finding a CURE for Cystic Fibrosis. One day CF will stand for Cure Found. x
Love, Carmen

YAY 💕
Can't wait to join my family in Sandton this weekend for the FNO 💕🤸🏼‍♀️

Already being spoiled with gifts and love 💁🏼
Thanks Adidas for supporting my journey with Cystic Fibrosis and for supporting my campaign CarmenBreathes 💁🏼

Excited is an understatement. 🙌🏻

Yay 🙌🏻 so excited for women's day with my Adidas Family in Sandton. Thanks for the amazing gift that I already fell in love with on our shooting day 🙈🙌🏻💁🏼💕

After having a really long week and being diagnosed with Diabetes 1 (CFRD) on top of CF I'm just happy to still be able to exercise and feel good and healthy. Exercise is actually one of the main things that help Diabetes 1 sufferers to bring down their sugar levels 🙌🏻😏👍🏻 fitness basically = wellbeing

🔜 this weekend in Sandton is going to be amazing. Can't wait to see my FAF girls and this weekend 🤗🤗

Go check out my interview with Proteostasis Therapeutics Inc. in the USA. 🌸

http://www.proteostasis.com/for-patients-families/carmen-breathes-building-life-with-cystic-fibrosis/

Carmen Breathes: Building Life with Cystic Fibrosis – Proteostasis Therapeutics Carmen Breathes: Building Life with Cystic Fibrosis South Africa Photo courtesy of Coetzer Cooke Photography “I say it all the time, but I truly believe cystic fibrosis is a blessing in disguise”   Starting from her earliest childhood memories, cystic fibrosis has tinged Carmen’s life with serious c...

• ADIDAS • has been one of the number one motivators and supporters of my journey in the last few months. Sending me gifts and spoiling me rotten (lucky me) - I got the chance to further improve my health through fitness, but also to motivate my fellow CF-peers by staying active. The adventure and spoils did not stop there. After a long recovery period following a specialized surgery in June, I got another call from Adidas. "How would you like to be a guest speaker at our Women's Day Event in Johannesburg?" HELL YES!! 🎈👟. So the countdown begins as I prep to inspire and motivate ANYONE with or without an illness to stay active and to be a living proof of what 'being active' can accomplish in any living being- especially those with health issues. Of course I would not be where I am today without the expertise of health practitioners, medical excellence in CF since 1985 and support from great friends and family and the CF community. My one week countdown will begin in August - I'll be sharing some CF facts + How Adidas has changed my life and others globally.

After months of talking on the phone and sharing our lives and experiences with CF- we finally had the chance of meeting each other. Having CF it is important to stay 6ft apart at all times and wearing a mask or some form of protection to prevent cross-infections (which can be fatal). One or two hugs was something necessary though! Alice has suffered from CF for 33 years and got a second chance at life after her first lung transplant 9 years ago. Going into rejection - not a day goes by that I don't pray and hope for a third chance at life for Alice. She has been a rock in my life the last few months and is a true advocate for CF and organ donation. Ali is definitely one of the strongest and most empowering women I know. 🌸