Safe and Sound — Shelby Dell

Main graphic for "Safe and Sound," Cystic Fibrosis News Today, by columnist Shelby Dell

Shelby Dell is fellow Cystic Fibrosis News Today columnist Brad Dell’s older sister. They grew up as military brats. She now lives in Denver, CO, and recently graduated with her MA in Early Childhood Special Education. Aside from being a columnist at Bionews, she works at a nonprofit center for children with autism.

Remember, We’re All Fighting Invisible Battles

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…

Columns

The Miracle of Watching My Brother Run

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…

Columns

What Cystic Fibrosis Has Taught Me About Caring for My Mental Health

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…

Columns

What It’s Like to Have a Family Member in the ICU

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…

Columns

For Anxious Siblings and Their Parents

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…

Columns

What It Means to Be ‘Just the Sister’

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…