Rare disease

A small miracle that this Tyrolean woman is still alive

Barbara Kirchmair (right) with her doctor Dorothea Appelt

(Bild: Christian Forcher/Fotoworxx)

Barbara Kirchmair suffers from a rare metabolic disorder. The Tyrolean is a living example of how even serious illnesses can be manageable at some point. However, her rescue began with a great family loss. 

When Barbara Kirchmair was born 50 years ago, the chances for people with her disease were anything but good. The Tyrolean suffers from cystic fibrosis (CF), also known as cystic fibrosis. This causes viscous mucus to form in the cells and block vital organs such as the lungs or digestive organs. Just a few decades ago, those affected barely survived childhood.