FOR more than a decade, Ceri Dyas tried not to let her 'asthma' rule her life.

The former Lliswerry Comprehensive School pupil used to travel the country taking part in disco dancing competitions and was a typically active teenager.

But after falling pregnant last year the Newport 23-year-old was left barely able to walk, constantly short of breath, and suffering from a severe cough.

With her baby due to be born in just a few weeks she was rushed from her home in Lloyd Street to the Royal Gwent Hospital suffering from double pneumonia. A succession of tests soon revealed the shock truth behind Ceri's condition - her 'asthma' was actually the potentially fatal condition, cystic fibrosis.

"It was such a shock to be told that I had never had asthma but had cystic fibrosis instead," she said.

"I always had my inhaler and suffered from a cough but when you are told it is asthma that is what you believe."

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the UK's most common life-threatening inherited disease. It affects the lungs and digestive system clogging them sticky mucus which makes it hard to digest food and breathe.

Against the odds, Ceri gave a natural birth to a healthy daughter, Lauren, who is a carrier of the CF but does not suffer from it.

Tom Robin, from the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, said: "This type of situation comes up very rarely. There is sometimes late diagnosis in young children but it is very rare for someone to be diagnosed in their adult life."

Ceri's mother, Barbara Dyas, said: "Ceri has suffered with a constant cough on her chest all her life. I always thought something was not right. "We used to take her disco dancing around the country. When she was pregnant she just got worse. She could hardly move and antibiotics were not doing anything.

"I think people need to be aware," said Barbara Dyas. "But now Ceri just needs all the help she can get."