My Great Strides Story
Shelby Dimel
Fundraising for Columbus Great Strides 2026
Shelby Dimel
There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis and too many people with CF die young. I'm walking to help change that reality.
CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.
We found out Gabby had a chance of having CF when we did our genetic testing while I was pregnant. Alex and I both were carriers (DDF508 and N1301K). Gabby was watched carefully during my pregnancy and it was noted she had an echogenic bowel. This meant her intestines were inflamed. Which is a red flag for CF. So we continued to watch. At 37 weeks they got worse and I had double the amount of amniotic fluid than I was supposed to. So a few days later Gabby was born via scheduled c-section.
CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.
Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.
We found out Gabby had a chance of having CF when we did our genetic testing while I was pregnant. Alex and I both were carriers (DDF508 and N1301K). Gabby was watched carefully during my pregnancy and it was noted she had an echogenic bowel. This meant her intestines were inflamed. Which is a red flag for CF. So we continued to watch. At 37 weeks they got worse and I had double the amount of amniotic fluid than I was supposed to. So a few days later Gabby was born via scheduled c-section.
She was then taken to Nationwide Children's hospital shortly after birth. At 2 days old she had her first surgery. She had a jejunal atresia and meconium ileus so they needed to remove a small portion of her intestines and then she was given a stoma and a fistula and had an ostomy bag.
On February 15th Gabby prolapsed her stoma (meaning pushed it out) and continued to do that a few more times. After the third time the decision to repair her ostomy and do the reversal was made - this was 2 weeks ahead of schedule. But our girl was ready to get the heck out of that hospital!
After that surgery she had to have one more minor surgery to repair a small hole in her intestines. After that we were smooth sailing.
We spend a total of 64 days in the NICU.
Gabby overall has been very healthy. Other than her NICU stay she has only been inpatient twice for bowel clean outs which is common for CFers. However, since starting Trikafta at the age of 2, things have been great! We are so thankful for this miracle drug!
Will you help us end cystic fibrosis?
By donating to my fundraising goal, you have the power to advance the research and science needed to drive our shared dream forward - a cure for everyone with CF.
Will you help us end cystic fibrosis?
By donating to my fundraising goal, you have the power to advance the research and science needed to drive our shared dream forward - a cure for everyone with CF.
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