April 2, 2008
Feature Article
#1
Breathe in Easy
Christena Gabehart, as normal as she may seem, has never experienced a normal life. When she was born December 7, 1988, she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Affecting a person’s lungs and digestive system, Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that is caused by a defective gene and its protein product making a person’s body produce unusually thick, sticky mucus. Since Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disease, there is a very high possibility that more than one person in a family will have Cystic Fibrosis. This was no different in Christena’s case- her brother also has Cystic Fibrosis but unlike Christena has never needed a transplant.
Along with CF, Christena also deals with diabetes, hypertension, and myasthenia gravis. At the age of 16, Christena’s lung functions had deteriorated to the 20th percentile, meaning the mucus was settling in her lungs and preventing her from getting the oxygen her body needed. After relocating to St. Louis, Christena was put on a transplant list for one week before receiving her call for her new lungs. Christena’s mom and brother also moved up to St. Louis with her and got an apartment while Christena’s dad traveled between St. Louis and their home in Kentucky and served as a means of an income.
“My mom is my hero because of all she has had to deal with raising two sick kids and being a wonderful mom and wife. She is the backbone of our family,” Christena said.
Throughout Christena’s life, she has always been an exceptional student. This is a big enough feat for an average student, but for someone in Christena’s position it is quite amazing considering the number of absences taken during her school years amounted to over 60 per year.
“I tried to study and stay on top of my school work and I had a lot of support from my family and friends,” Christena said.
Looking back, Christena considers this an obstacle, but back then it seemed “the norm” for someone in her situation because that was all she had ever known. This obstacle led to another obstacle: a strict health routine involving regular doctor’s appointments and daily medications. Christena reflected on her regular doctor visits, “I have a nurse come to WKU every month to draw my blood to check certain medicine levels and kidney functions. I also have to go to Saint Louis to see my transplant specialist every 6 months and if a problem arises, I have to go sooner.”
The three main medications Christena takes are steroids, anti-rejection and immunosuppression. She takes steroids because they help with immunosuppression, anti-rejection so her body won’t reject her new lungs and immunosuppressants so her body will not attack it’s own immune system. All of these drugs have side effects that Christena counteracts with numerous other medications. The total amount of medication she takes in the morning amounts to 17 pills with 14 left for her to take at night and a few throughout the course of her day.
“I used to have contests with my brother to see who could take the most pills at once. I always won,” Christena said.
Even though Christena has Cystic Fibrosis and certain illnesses that come with the disease, she chooses not to let it prohibit her from doing and accomplishing what she wants. She is currently planning to “major child studies with a minor in sociology in hopes in becoming a child life specialist,” Christena said. She is very appreciative of the excellent staff she was blessed to have throughout her ordeal and wants to give sick children the same positive experience. Child life specialists are experts in child development who promote effective coping through self-expression activities such as music therapy and art therapy.
“I know what it’s like to go through an illness at a very young age and I feel like I can help kids by being able to relate to what they are experiencing,” Christena stated.
Christena remembers how her life used to be before she received her new lungs, and is thankful for her new chance at life.
“There were a lot of times I wanted to go outside and play but I couldn’t because I was too sick or had to do treatments,” she said, “People sometimes think I can’t do certain things just because of the illness.”
Now that Christena has her new lungs, she doesn’t have to worry about that anymore. She can be seen in the gym, mall, or if weather permits outside running around. Pretty much anything an average college student can do, Christena can do. If someone were to walk past her and not have a clue of her medical background, he/she would never be able to tell any difference from anyone else around her. She has come so far from where she originally started and people are very proud of her- from her own flesh and blood to the new friends she has made since attending WKU. Christena’s friends believe everyone should adopt her favorite quote and live by it just like Christena has by living life to the fullest.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.”