Brad Taylor


Motivational, Sport | Athletics

As a 7 month old baby with chronic Cystic Fibrosis, Brad Taylor was given little chance of survival. Then, at 25 Brad survived one of Australia’s first heart and double lung transplants. 17 years later, Brad is keeping active and finding new challenges is a way of life. Brad offers a unique opportunity to gain a true understanding of Cystic Fibrosis and transplantation, from a man who has shown that through determination and a positive outlook that dreams do come true. He has an inspirational story to share at your next event.

When Brad was a baby, statistics showed that babies with a mild form of CF had a 50% chance of reaching 4 years. At age 6, Brad was having treatments of antibiotics, inhalers and chest physiotherapy four times a day, and he began his schooling years. This was when he discovered what life was like for kids without CF and thought it wasn’t fair. He chose never to give in and would fight for as long, and as hard, as he possibly could.

Significantly, his 7th birthday wish was for a normal healthy life; a life without treatments and hospital. Due to the limited life span of children with CF, doctors gave him little hope of surviving.

At age 10 and living in New Zealand, once again in hospital but this time he nearly didn’t get out alive, due to a lack of knowledge of Cystic Fibrosis.

When he was 15, Brad decided to leave school and concentrate on treatments and see just how long he could survive. By 19 his lungs had deteriorated to the point they had affected his heart and he was diagnosed with a heart condition needing oxygen to assist with sleeping.

Following many years of hospital admissions, due to continual chest infections, at 24 Brad needed oxygen full-time. He had right heart failure, 24% lung capacity and was given just 6-12 months to live. But, there was a bright light of hope at the end of the tunnel.

Thirteen months later, Brad had survived one of Australia’s first heart & double lung transplants. This was no ordinary procedure for he donated his old heart to another person, as a result it was Australia’s first 3-Way DOMINO procedure in Australia.

Since then, Brad has been in 13 City to Bay Fun Runs, Para-sailed, Skydived, received the John Nevin Rising Star award as an up and coming young professional speaker, was awarded the Australian Sports Medal by the Governor General of Australia, represented his country and State in Transplant Games, carried the Olympic Torch in 2000 and presented a professional talk in Sweden.

In 2006 shortly after being recognized as one of the world’s longest surviving heart & double lung transplant recipients, Brad due to high blood pressure from his drugs suffered a near fatal stroke! Diagnosed as a six cm bleed to the right side of the brain causing paralysis to the left side of his body. Now after making a miraculous recovery, he’s now working hard at rehabilitation to get his body & life back on track!

Brad is keen to return to his part-time work as Promotions Officer for CFSA, has started a career as an Inspirational speaker, keeps fit by continuing to play golf, is getting married in April and intends to be around for a while yet.