Cystic Fibrosis, multiple surgeries can't blunt student's quest for life

09/05/08 - When Karen Boschetti discovered that her 2-month-old daughter, Kayla Gilbert, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis about 20 years ago, she had no idea what it was, let alone the fact that it could be fatal.What her daughter inherited, the doctors said, was a chronic disease that affected her lungs and her digestive system, causing problems with weight gain and breathing.

"We tried to keep it as much of a normal life as we could," Boschetti said, glancing at her daughter. Gilbert said one of the toughest parts of growing up with Cystic Fibrosis was the social aspect.

"I had to wake up earlier than everybody else to take treatments and I was always tired," she said. "When I went to sleepovers I'd always have to take three bags instead of one because I'd have to take my breathing tank with me and my pills."

Two decades and a double-lung transplant later, Gilbert is a sophomore studying animal science at the University of Rhode Island, with color in her cheeks and a spring in her step.

"You wouldn't know she just had a double-lung transplant," Boschetti said. "She looks so healthy."

Though Gilbert said she'd gotten used to taking her medications in front of her friends, her condition didn't make her transition from Pilgrim High School in Warwick to URI any easier.

"Freshman year I had a single [room] on campus," she said. "I didn't like it that much. I guess it was because I was dealing with my disease and stuff. The mold kind of got into my airways."

Gilbert continued her studies in the animal science program at the university, but working with the live animals she loved so much became a health risk and left her more prone to infections.

The infections that rattled her airways eventually led to a double-lung transplant on Feb. 22 of this year, where she underwent a $90,000 surgery.

Since then, Gilbert has been able to continue working toward a bachelor's degree, finishing her last spring semester online.

"I shouldn't really work with animals yet," she said, "but my doctors said as long as I take the proper precautions, I can work with them again. I can't work with birds or ferrets. I can work with dogs and cats though, obviously."

Boschetti responded with, "Thank goodness for that," pointing to their three dogs scampering around their dining room.

Gilbert still has to go back to the hospital in Boston every three months for a biopsy to see if her body is showing any signs of rejecting the transplant.

The first biopsy showed signs of rejection, Boschetti said, but the doctors told her it was normal. "Ninety-seven percent of transplant patients show signs of rejection during the first biopsy," she said.

Gilbert said that after her transplant, she's been enjoying the simple things in life, like walking her dog.

"I was constantly tired before," Gilbert said. "I couldn't really do things like walk the dog without getting exhausted. Getting out of the house now is nice."



Courtesy of the Warwick Beacon.