They hope the ‘when’ will be before their children reach their 30s – the expected lifespan of a cystic fibrosis sufferer.

Kiara, 7, understands the seriousness of her illness but Tahnee, 4, is still too young.

While they play happily with their grandmother on the lawn next to Lake Weeroona, it is impossible to tell they have a grave genetic disease. 

Scott and Sally keep a watchful eye on their children, letting them play freely while also keeping their vulnerabilities in mind. 

“You can’t let it get to you too much. You can’t wrap them in cotton wool,” Scott said.

“I try to take it one day at a time,” Sally said.

Receiving Kiara’s diagnosis seven years ago was tough on the couple.

A year earlier they had been through the grief of losing their first baby in a stillbirth at 33 weeks.

When they learned Kiara had cystic fibrosis and that they could outlive her, they were shattered.

“It tore our hearts out all over again,” Scott said.

The couple discovered they were both carriers of the disease, which gave them a one in four chance that their children would have it.

Their third baby, Tahnee, was born and she too tested positive for cystic fibrosis.

Their fourth baby, Peyton, only five months old, does not have cystic fibrosis but is a carrier of the gene.

They are grateful to their family for their ongoing support and to all the people in their lives who have given money to Cystic Fibrosis Victoria to find a cure.

The couple said Cystic Fibrosis Victoria helped them with accommodation expenses when they travelled to Melbourne for medical treatment and the cost of equipment and physiotherapy.

Cystic Fibrosis Victoria is seeking donations and support at Lake Weeroona, Bendigo this Sunday at the annual running event, Great Strides. Most of the funds raised will go towards research for a cure for cystic fibrosis.

To register for Great Strides on Sunday, click here. 

To support the Richardson family, click here.