Safe and Sound – a Column by Shelby Dell

We all have struggles in our lives that we don’t share on Facebook, with co-workers, or openly on our sleeve. Yet, so many of us jump to conclusions about the behaviors and appearances of strangers whose lives we know nothing about. Cystic fibrosis is an invisible illness, which means…

Lung transplant is a major topic for families of people with cystic fibrosis. In a recent column, I talked about what it was like when my brother, Bradley, spent several weeks in the ICU. The result of that stay turned out to be that he needed a…

Editor’s note: This column discusses suicide. Please find resources for help at the end of the column. I’ve seen my brother, Brad, go through many phases in life, but the most distinct and emotional one was his rebellious teenager phase. While other teens were out dyeing their…

In 2016, my family spent weeks in the ICU with my brother, Bradley, who had cystic fibrosis and was dying from sepsis caused by an infection. I can’t fully describe what it’s like to have a family member in the ICU, but I need to try, because the…

In my last column, I talked about how having a brother with cystic fibrosis affected my mental health growing up. In this one, I’d like to discuss how anxiety manifested for me as a child, and how it still affects me today. It’s important to mention that anxiety has…

In many ways, I feel unqualified to write for a publication about cystic fibrosis. I was lucky enough to be born only as a CF carrier, while my younger brother, Brad, drew the short straw in the Punnett square game. Besides, my day-to-day life is no longer affected…