August 14, 2024 • 33 mins
In this heart-stirring episode of the Too Posh Podcast, we welcome the incredible Selwa Mitchell, a Cystic Fibrosis warrior and two-time lung transplant survivor, along with her four best friends since grade school. Together, they share Selwa's inspiring story of survival, unwavering faith, and the powerful bond that has carried them through life’s toughest battles. From defying medical odds to facing a third transplant with courage, Selwa’s journey is a testament to strength, friendship, and faith. Don't miss this moving conversation filled with laughter, love, and hope as we explore what it truly means to fight for life.
#TooPoshPodcast #CysticFibrosis #LungTransplant #Survivor #FriendshipGoals #UnbreakableBond #FaithAndHope #WarriorSpirit #Inspiration #PodcastEpisode #CF
#TooPoshPodcast #CysticFibrosis #LungTransplant #Survivor #FriendshipGoals #UnbreakableBond #FaithAndHope #WarriorSpirit #Inspiration #PodcastEpisode #CF
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Tupash Podcast. I am Gabrielle. I'm a
former New York Mafia princess originally from Austria. I am
the mother of three and the owner of Tubash Boutique,
and here with my beautiful co host Masela my daughter.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hello, I'm Marcella. I'm a dancer, choreographer, model and designer
for Tupash and I say whatever I want.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
My name is Cruz. I am a stylist. I also
own the Society Salon in the Design District and I
am a short, little Mexican with the big personality.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
What will they say next? Welcome to the Tupash Podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Well, hello everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Today we have probably one of the most exciting episodes
we have ever had on ye show. We have the
wonderful Selma Mitchell back with her four best friends since
grade school, Correct Lifelines and Amy Amy Bonson.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Did I say that right?
Speaker 6 (01:16):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Okay, Courtney, Holly, Ashley Riley and Brittany Hoffman. They are
all here with Salva Mitchell. Salva Mitchell was on our
show before and we have started a new thing with
Selva where we are recording podcasts in chapter form to
create a book for her. Later on, and Salva is
(01:41):
the most amazing, powerful, strong survivor with cystic fibrosis, and
we are continuing our series with her with all the friends,
and we'll find out get to know all the details.
But they have their memories of when they grew up
and they found out facistic fibrosis and how they have
(02:02):
helped her through two transplants and getting ready for third.
Speaker 7 (02:06):
Yep, they're the reason why I'm still alive.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Wow. So I will say too, I got a lot
of messages about Selah from your first one, A lot
of people very emotional, very impressed, like can't believe your story.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
So and that does not happen.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We've done three hundred plus episodes and I got the
most messages about you, like what No.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
I think it's your strength.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
And honestly, sometimes when I'm having like a bad day,
I'm like, oh my.
Speaker 7 (02:35):
God, really I can lift you up. That give me purpose.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Yes, So I wanted to tell you that before we started. Yeah,
and I had one question to start the show off.
But as you pursue your third transplant, you have gone
to Duke and gotten all the tests done, would you
give everyone an update how that went and where we
are at today, yes.
Speaker 7 (02:59):
And well was it was very exciting and I felt
really good there. My gut felt like that will be
the place that saves my life. I met with my surgeon,
which was very good looking.
Speaker 8 (03:11):
By the way, every surgeon that saves her life.
Speaker 9 (03:19):
Is there a story?
Speaker 7 (03:21):
Is that like a syndrome thing or like? But yeah,
well even yeah, even my husband was like he was
so cool. I mean, and you think about it, it's like,
I mean, I was like, you're going to save my life,
you know, And I was like and I'm all for it,
like I trust you. And so we had a really
good conversation and he felt good about it. He was
(03:41):
just like, dude, you got to gain some weight or
before I put you on the table. But yeah, I've
met with so many people and they were just it's
just so cool how this is just like something they
do every day, you know, like cut people open and
save their lives.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So when you first met him, like how did he
tell us more details?
Speaker 7 (04:01):
He like kind of scruffy and like tall and just
just walked in like he owned the room and just
he's like and so he was just like like, so
is it you and another guy He's like, yeah, I
got another guy, Yeah, like I can do you know, well,
well we can do this, Like he just acted like
it was just something he does every day, which I
guess he does. So I felt really good.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Has he done a third long time?
Speaker 7 (04:23):
Yes, he had to tend thirteen?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Oh he is so wild, I think.
Speaker 7 (04:27):
With alongside Yeah. So yeah, So I mean I'm I
felt good about him. Like slicing me open. I was like,
this could happen. And I basically was like, I promise
you if you say yes to this, I will survive,
Like I will, like, come me open, I can do this,
like I know my will can do this, And so
(04:48):
I was just wanting him to have confidence in me,
like I have confidence in him.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
I can tell you when I edited your shows, I
know beyond a shadow of adult that you can do
it do It's like it's just a knowledge that is
unbelievable because when you don't know, when someone doesn't know you,
and you hear that, then you kind of go, that's
not a really tough one. But with you, I have
no doubt at all.
Speaker 7 (05:13):
I feel it, and I just because I mean, I
do have such an amazing support system and I do
have him like calming me and keeping me all together
because I mean, you know, again, like I said before,
when I say all this out loud, I'm like, wait,
what did I just say that? But I mean it
just that it makes sense. That's just how I feel,
and I do believe it's my faith keeping me level
(05:35):
headed and calm. And so what tests did you have
to do? Well, Like one of them was this like
heart catheter thing where it went through my like my
like I don't I don't even know my thigh or
something in all the way up to check out my heart.
And it was funny because they wanted to sedate me,
but if they sedated me, I couldn't get on the
plane that night. And I was like, I promise you,
(05:57):
I will not move. Do not sedate me. Just let
me just this observation.
Speaker 9 (06:01):
She's hard.
Speaker 7 (06:03):
And I was like they were just like, well, if
you move, this is a problem. Like, guys, I promise.
And so of course I'm just sitting there while they're like,
you know, feeding this wire to my heart and I'm like,
I told you, guys, this is fine. Like I'm like
I can do this all day long. And so again
it was just there. So I think they I proved
to all the people around me that like I don't
mess around, like like I respect what they do and
(06:24):
they have to respect that I can do this because
I really felt like I had to sell myself, like
I mean, they don't just give lungs to anyone and respectfully.
So but I am all a met like I'm ready
for some new ones, like I'm I've gotten I'm like
twenty eight percent now since the last time I talked
to y'all, So I'm getting a little more, a little
more winded, and yoga's a little bit more hard, and so.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Yeah, you know, I did they say, like the last
time you were thirty right.
Speaker 7 (06:54):
Right, yeah, So when I was there, it was actually
thirty four percent, and I was definitely They were like
looking at me kind of like you're early, but this
is good that you're here. And I'm kind of like,
I know I'm early, but like I swear so like
in a month because I know how this works, Like
I can feel myself declining, like you know as we speak,
(07:14):
you know, it's just and I am. I mean, I
was thirty four percent, I'm twenty eight percent, and I
feel it every day. I'm okay with that because I
I mentally have to tell myself, like you're breathing, you're
still alive, because your breath doesn't give you the satisfaction.
So you have to like mentally tell yourself that you're
breathing and you're getting air. But yeah, I do think
(07:37):
that there's no red flags. They were like no red
flags none. Yeah, like so far, so good, Like every
test I did, I passed. Yeah in the yeah, and
like everything, like even the psychologists, like because the psychologists
and you know, they're like, do you do drugs? Like no,
like I do not, I can't prescribe, yeah, exactly exactly well,
(07:59):
and then you know, but even like xanax, they're like,
you know, ever was, well I would have a xanax
because I mean I'm twenty eight percent like and they're
just like, well, we really want you to not be
on that anymore because I guess they don't want like
a pill head getting new lungs. And I totally get that.
So I'm proving to them that my lifestyle and that
I deserve these lungs that you know.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
That, so no red flags And then what did they say,
like last time you told us that you have to
be it has to be the right time, Like, yeah,
you can't be like too healthy in the table. It's
did they say anything about that?
Speaker 7 (08:35):
I mean, because that's where I am right now. I'm
I'm not sick enough for the table, right and so
I'm not sick enough, but like I cannot be like
how I was last time. You guys all know how
that was, and I y'all know better than I do
how that was because I was like to sleep while
y'all did all the hard work.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
So maybe how should we start? How do you want
to do this? Do you want to start from when
you first met Selvo?
Speaker 8 (08:59):
Do you?
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Well?
Speaker 10 (09:01):
I was just gonna like tag on that for a second.
You know, I remember right before her second and right
before she really kind of did go into lung failure.
There's one post that's always stuck with me, and I'm
not going to quote it perfectly, but you know, her
writing is amazing. I mean so, but it was something
like cut me open and unleash the beast, And it's
(09:22):
so true. Yeah, when Selah gets into beast mode, there's
no stopping her, you know, And like she can turn
on beast mode in a moment's notice, you know. And
I think that our job is to try to like
prep her up to get into the hype man, you know,
and then she's just there and I mean there's no
stopping her. And that's why you know you saw that
(09:44):
and you knew she was gonna make it. Like there's
no question. People always ask us, are you worried? Are
you No? No, I mean this is gonna work. God
is yet, and we've.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Seen miracle after miracles.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Yeah, so that helps.
Speaker 10 (09:56):
I mean, what a beautiful ability for us to be
friends and these miracles to help us have faith in
God like we do. You know that's all because of
the faith she has and how she and Scott are
just amazing and trusting.
Speaker 7 (10:10):
But I will say that pistmode doesn't. I mean that
beist mode comes from you guys. Like, so it's like
a circle, right, Like I'm strong, but because I have y'all,
you know what I mean. So it's like we're endless together.
I've never felt alone, and it's even it's kind of
like I'm like walking on this like wobbly tightrope and
(10:31):
I am like gonna fall any minute, but I don't
care because I have all you with like the safety net,
just waiting like okay, we're here, We're ready, We're ready
to catch you. And that's how it's been since we've
been little, like since college since So I'm just again,
the only way I can do this is because of
my faith in you guys, And so I know y'all
give me so much credit for being a beast because
(10:53):
I am, but because of y'all.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
So it is really quite rare to have yeah, no kidding,
five friends like this go through life ups and downs
and be this close to be I mean, that's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
It's very rare to see.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Well, and I do read that to unconditional love, like
they have put up with so much of my crap,
I mean, and they love me for me and I
can be me and y'all accept me for who I am.
And I think that's how we've survived. How long have
we all been together?
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Decades?
Speaker 7 (11:30):
In college? We had some in college, we had some
screaming fights like how how could you do that? Like
calling me out on my crap?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You know?
Speaker 9 (11:37):
And we.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
I mean, that's the thing, it's not one way. I mean,
we get.
Speaker 10 (11:45):
I mean, Soah gives us so much joy and guidance
and love and obviously her inspiration is amazing. But like
you know, I mean outside of even all of this,
you know, she's just amazing friend, you know, So you
know it's balanced, and I think that's right. It's unconditional love,
(12:05):
but we also don't take advantage of each other, you know,
and there's a fine line in friendships.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, that's still remarkable.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
Actually, I think so too.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
I would like to know how it all started.
Speaker 9 (12:18):
I know too.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
We all all went to the same school. How it
all happened.
Speaker 10 (12:23):
I think we all have a little bit of a
different story with that. Yeah, I mean, so Sela and
I met the first time when we were three years old.
So we were in dance together at three years old,
and Amy was right along with us, and so we
danced our whole lives together. We ended up going to
(12:44):
the same middle school, you know, and then the same
high school, and then the same college, and then the
same weddings, and then having children the same years, and.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
So it just keeps going.
Speaker 10 (12:53):
But for me, like I mean, that's where I first
remember Selah is in dance class.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Yeah, and you know, sef wasn't a big thing, like
I mean, we.
Speaker 7 (13:02):
Had no idea, I mean, had no idea.
Speaker 10 (13:06):
That's one thing that her parents have just done a
remarkable job of just raising someone who is normal, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
It doesn't focus on their condition, but.
Speaker 7 (13:16):
It would be it even just when you talk about kids.
But like Ash and I and we all we'd all
go on vacation together and a should be like, hey,
I need to pump. Why don't you do your lung treatment?
So well together?
Speaker 8 (13:27):
And I was the best clapper. I will say, yeah, yeah,
I am a.
Speaker 10 (13:31):
Very good clap But it was also fun because I
could get all my frustration out on her too.
Speaker 7 (13:39):
And just so she she'd be pumping and because I
couldn't breathe, Like we'd be down at the beach and
I'm like, I gotta do a treatment, and she's like, well,
I got a pump, let's go.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
And so she would just be to pregnant a long time.
Speaker 7 (13:51):
Yeah you were pregnant.
Speaker 9 (13:53):
And how many children?
Speaker 7 (13:56):
I have?
Speaker 5 (13:56):
Four and four?
Speaker 7 (13:59):
Damn Yeah. So I think we just as I got sicker,
we adjusted and they just accepted me for how I
even knew what they needed to do, and they would
step up. Think about all the times in the hospital
and we were like in seventh grade. We have funny
stories about that. Oh yes, Courney is our history.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
She is the historian of the group.
Speaker 7 (14:21):
Remember, like I'd be in the hospital and the therapist,
the rest story therapists would be popping my back and
the kid y'all would I call us kids because we
were kids back then, but us as kids would make
posters for me and inappropriate posters.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
By the way, why did we make that in ninth grade?
Speaker 11 (14:40):
It was fun because it's funny. It was something to chew,
and we didn't think about the fact that you were
going to see it.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
Got so much trouble in the hospitals, like because a party,
And yeah, I would not let that happen today, Like
they were restory therapists was clapping my back. She would
read it there read the posters. One of them was like,
what's what was it was? I'm not going to actually
a position.
Speaker 8 (15:09):
I don't think I didn't record record, but we were
in rad It does show that like part of how
you get through it is just by making my laugh.
Speaker 5 (15:18):
However, you can do laugh in the most you know.
Speaker 11 (15:22):
We try to get her to that point where she's
like really laughing, but it's not going to kick her
into the deep, deep level fine line there's a fine line.
Speaker 7 (15:31):
The grandma laughed, however, are you doing it? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (15:34):
By Court, you had a different experience.
Speaker 9 (15:36):
You knew her. We went to.
Speaker 12 (15:38):
School together since we were five, and our parents live
still to this day three streets away.
Speaker 9 (15:43):
So I found at your shaving cream.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Party a shaving cred.
Speaker 7 (15:48):
You didn't have a shaving my dad was my dad's idea.
He was so proud of that idea.
Speaker 9 (15:51):
I can't even remember. But we had a shaving cream
fight in your backyard.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
And when I had I probably had to do a treatment.
That night, we had a slumber party.
Speaker 12 (15:57):
Remember, we wanted to watch the movie Alex The Life
of a Child and your mom wouldn't let us.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
Oh was that because it was about Seattle?
Speaker 4 (16:05):
It was, That's what.
Speaker 9 (16:06):
I told us about it.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I can't even remember what grade was, second Yeah, yeah, wow,
and but.
Speaker 7 (16:14):
Yeah, but then we would remember what I would take
you to school.
Speaker 12 (16:18):
She was my ride to school and I got pulled
over on the first day of our sophomore year.
Speaker 7 (16:21):
Leave it to me.
Speaker 9 (16:23):
She was because I got.
Speaker 12 (16:25):
I got because she got a hardship. And when we
got her hardship. Her or died at the McDonald's on
Brown Trail and everyone.
Speaker 7 (16:35):
Yeah, those cars were. But yeah, I mean I can't
believe your parents, Like I was fifteen driving this around,
but I could. Hardship is basically so I was like, oh,
I need I need my car so I can go
home and do treatments, which is true. But I also
was like fifteen and driving a car, so we I.
Speaker 11 (16:53):
Don't think you ever left at school, so I didn't
really even want to because we wanted to all have
driving a car, so.
Speaker 12 (17:02):
We Yeah, so I was always no because she never
left school one time because we were like, you're for
sure getting the hardship.
Speaker 7 (17:11):
Used it to like, you know, drive around late at
night when I wasn't even supposed and we.
Speaker 9 (17:14):
Got more on Saturday.
Speaker 7 (17:15):
When were the time we got pulled over when your
grandma was home.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
Yeah, there's a lot of stories and you've.
Speaker 7 (17:20):
Lied to the copy.
Speaker 9 (17:24):
Is a hardship.
Speaker 10 (17:26):
I think the times he never asks for anything, like
you know she could have had.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
She never knows special parking. Wait, there's so many things.
Speaker 10 (17:35):
Yeah, I didn't want she she didn't want that, you know,
and that's partly why your mindsets so strong.
Speaker 7 (17:40):
Well, yeah, y'all got mad at me because I was like,
I can have a handicap parking spot at school. And
I was like, I'm not doing that. That is you know,
that's stupid, I know what. And you were like, no, dude,
do it like the handicap like marketing.
Speaker 9 (17:51):
Especially since you were taking me.
Speaker 7 (17:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Yeah, uh so dance dance school, college.
Speaker 7 (18:01):
This is so yeah.
Speaker 10 (18:02):
So the four of us were inseparable, these four like
starting in probably eighth grade, dance dance school.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Cool and they and then and then you went to college.
I went to the same college I.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
Did, and I went but she was basically it was
like she died. But so I went early to Challenge. Yeah,
we were in the Challenge program, but I had so
it was by myself. I went to college and that
first day, right, it was about the first It was
the first day I see this tall, gorgeous blonde I mean,
(18:41):
because I mean she's like, what are you like five
tons skinny? Like last were days we had to go
to some meeting in the dorm and I was like,
do you want to go with me? And you were
just like yeah, And then literally did not like separate
from that.
Speaker 11 (18:59):
That damn pretty moved out of her dorm and I
left the girl and moved down with SOA because she.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Had extra bid so from the first day.
Speaker 7 (19:09):
Yes, yeah, I mean it was just God knew exactly well.
When I love this too, is that your mom was
praying for you to have really good friends like in college.
He was like, that was in your mom. I love
your mom, and she was just and I really believe
she prayed for you and us to find each other
because that, I mean, I needed you so badly because
this would be was my first time without my safety
(19:30):
net of people who knew who I was and what
disease I had. I mean I had that huge treatment
I remember. I mean, I'm sure you were just like
what you were, just like okay, let's do your treatment.
And I mean you were just so loving and and
we were just inseparable. I mean literally every day we
were together, I reached attached, like to the point where
you're like, I'm in this art class for four hours
(19:52):
and I was like, ew, let's let's cancel that because
we got to lay out that like.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Time and interfered with my I could mix, you know.
Speaker 7 (20:00):
So we were like to the point where we I mean,
and then so it was my birthday.
Speaker 9 (20:05):
Right, weked a little bit.
Speaker 10 (20:07):
I'm sure back at the home.
Speaker 7 (20:11):
We've never had a new we have a new friend.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
You're older, and so I was like, you guys are
going to love her, and like.
Speaker 9 (20:19):
Do we like anybody else?
Speaker 7 (20:21):
Now?
Speaker 6 (20:22):
Knowing y'all, I'm so surprised, Like it was the map dress, I.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
Mean, the gorgeous blonde in the map dress, and and
so I remembered, I was like late in Courty was
pissed me. She was like because I was like my birthday.
But she's like, where were you? We've been in the
parking lot, like.
Speaker 9 (20:38):
We were going to Austin.
Speaker 11 (20:39):
We got him going, we were we were packing them
up in Waco and then I.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
Had a driver back in the middle. Then like early
that morning I could miss class.
Speaker 7 (20:48):
Yeah yeah, and then we were a mess.
Speaker 9 (20:51):
I don't remember.
Speaker 11 (20:52):
But as soon as we met Britt and yeah, we
met we meet her in the parking lot.
Speaker 9 (20:56):
We see her and we're like, well, I don't know.
I was too busy yelling.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Ban is probably like who is this girl?
Speaker 7 (21:04):
And then again, I mean it was just God knew
who I needed in my life to keep me alive.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
And so was ever any jealousy issues or I.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
Mean we're also talk.
Speaker 9 (21:17):
Different.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
We've never we're all.
Speaker 7 (21:20):
So different that Like for me in college, Brittany was
the tall blonde and I was the short burnette, and
we just were on well we already talked talked about
that zebra, but no, yeah, I we just again it
was just something I think. I don't know, maybe when
we're dealing with what I deal with every day, you
(21:42):
kind of like the little things just we were they
were just happy to keep me alive.
Speaker 11 (21:46):
I think I don't think we lived like that think
about it like that college.
Speaker 9 (21:50):
I mean I never thought like, oh, I'm keeping.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Were still like care free days.
Speaker 9 (21:55):
Really, I mean, I don't think that.
Speaker 7 (21:56):
Started till way later, like after babies baby.
Speaker 12 (22:00):
I mean maybe when you were pregnant with Bella is
when it kind.
Speaker 10 (22:03):
Of all I think the first time, which probably you
haven't even talked about, like completely not related to c
F and I don't know if you want me to share.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Oh, but I mean.
Speaker 10 (22:13):
Like she had a crazy, just random situation where she
had this tumor that they found that was the side
of the basketball and all of a sudden, she wasn't
she like fairly walked all the time because there was
this huge tumor taking all her blood so she literally
had to go into surgery.
Speaker 5 (22:32):
I'll never forget. It was spring break.
Speaker 10 (22:36):
Sophomore year in college college, and.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
I was going to call it.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
It was like, yeah, she was.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
It was sick.
Speaker 10 (22:44):
They had to cut her open, explore toy. They had
no idea, no idea. I was there and that was
the first time that I think you actually saw like Jesus,
like you know what I mean, in the room with you,
you know. And I think that was a pivotal part
for my faith because you, I mean, we were already faithful,
but like to experience that at such a young Tell
(23:04):
me about that.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
So I basically died on the table. And that was
why it was so hard to diagnose, because I am
used to fighting hard to be me right, So I was.
I didn't have any energy. I was so anemic I
had I was like pale. Remember that time, Amy, I was.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
I found her in the stairs and I was like,
are you all right?
Speaker 11 (23:26):
Where are you going?
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Are you going to? Are you going to class? And
I was like does it call it?
Speaker 11 (23:30):
Like, let's sit down right here, because I seriously thought
she was going to faint on the spot.
Speaker 7 (23:34):
Well, I had all those accounting books and I was
like hauling my butt to class to class, not knowing
that I was physically dying. Like inside, did feel it?
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Ever?
Speaker 7 (23:44):
Yeah, well people would hug me and it would hurt,
and I didn't. I thought it was just my lungs,
like I thought everything in CF and I thought my
lungs were just hurting or swollen or inflame. But it
was because all my organs were being pushed out. I mean,
this is like a whole nother story. But I did,
like Ashley said, it did prepare me to use my
(24:04):
faith to fight, because I was like, what is this
to the point where it was during spring break? So
I went into the hospital and then they accidentally found
how the They saw the flow of the blood going
into something and they were like, some things we're not well.
So then doctor Vler, who saved my life. Doctors are awesome,
(24:25):
by the way. But doctor Valler was like, look, I
don't know what's wrong with you. I can't figure it out.
I can send you back to school and we'll just
I was and I was like, huh, something is wrong
with me. You're gonna fix me. I don't know what
it is. He's like, okay, well then because he basically
had to tell my mom to leave, like yeah, to
not going well because like I had to make the
(24:48):
decision of story because basically he was going to cut
me open and I.
Speaker 11 (24:50):
Was by that time, So you can make your decisions
at that point, which I'm sure was incredibly she was
very emotional.
Speaker 7 (24:56):
Well yeah, and well she had a teat. He didn't
want my mom to the burden of making this decision
because if I did die, and again she was like,
this is her decision. So I was like eighteen, I
don't know where I got the strength. I mean, I
do know where I got it, but I just knew
something had to change because I was I couldn't live
like this, And so yeah, I was like, nope, you're
(25:17):
gonna take me in there. Figured out he cut me open.
It literally came like he said, it just flew out,
and it was it flew out. He had to like
sew me back together. He thinks he's still to this
day last like and that he showed me back wrong,
you know, but anyways, yeah, and so yeah, he was
just like I just kind of put you back together.
(25:38):
I died on the table, like brought me back. And
but we had a class together in college wait was it, Mike?
Speaker 5 (25:46):
It was microeconomics, and.
Speaker 7 (25:47):
So I didn't I since he was during spring break,
I was able to miss only a week of that
and then another week of school, and so I was like,
I still got like a three point seventy five that.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
Yeah, you came back and killed it in school. I
was like, okay, I have no excuse. I had like
a point nine.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
It's got to change. It was just again it's like
I don't. I just like for me now I look
back and I'm like, dude, who cares about school? But that
was like I was like, Ashley, okay.
Speaker 9 (26:14):
That she was going to make it.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
Yeah, I was like, and she just went back to
being normal, do you know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (26:19):
And just living like that didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Tell me about your faith experience in that, well.
Speaker 7 (26:25):
I think that was when I really learned how to
lean on my faith. I knew I always had my
faith and Jesus is my savior, and I knew that right,
but I never had felt it. And I do believe
like faith is a choice, right, and you can, but
I mean, it's not always a feeling, right. So every
day you wake up and you choose to have faith
(26:47):
and not every day do you feel him and not
every day, so to me, you have to choose to
have faith. But sometimes you can feel him. And during
my worst times, when I'm my sickest is when I
feel him all day long. And it's the most beautiful thing.
And to the point where I have told Ashley before
that when I am healthy, I miss him because I
(27:09):
don't lean my faith as much and I don't feel
him because I am so focused on life and doing
my thing that when I'm sick is when I feel him.
And anyways, and so that that really put me in,
really felt my faith during those times when I am sick.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
So for you guys, that's your first like knowledge, Okay, whoa, Yeah,
that was the closest like that was our first death experience.
Speaker 9 (27:35):
But I still think we were even you know, we
were still young.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
Even then at that time.
Speaker 9 (27:40):
It was more like, oh, that didn't even.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
See it, wasn't.
Speaker 11 (27:45):
She snipped that out and she's good to go now,
especially because she kicked, right, she kicked.
Speaker 12 (27:49):
I mean, like remember in the hospital you were on
morphine and you said, let's play a joke on my mom,
and so like her mom's elevator and she's like I'm
going to lay on the ground and when she gets
out like something's wrong.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
I was eighteen, I'm pressure. I'm like, okay, why.
Speaker 7 (28:09):
Not, like said, but I was really high on morphine.
Speaker 12 (28:16):
She was, but I'm saying so still we were very
young at eighteen, and so I don't know if even
after that that we were like, oh she could get
really sick.
Speaker 7 (28:26):
Yeah, I mean I was. I remember being I needed
to be on morphine. I was in a lot of pain,
like time were organs. My organs had literally had to
go back together, and you're tiny. It was just and
I yeah, it was. That was a whole crazy I forget.
Speaker 10 (28:40):
I guess for me, that was the first time I
remember you being like I felt God like I saw
I mean, and he is the only way I made.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
I made that, you know, And.
Speaker 10 (28:49):
I think for me, like just that was like a
really big faith moment for me. You know, my faith
grew through her faith growing you know as well. But no,
we didn't. We was just I'm out there having fun.
And I mean she was an accountant.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
She worked all those crazy eighty hour weeks with Arthur.
Was it Arthur?
Speaker 7 (29:11):
And yeah, I mean I can remember being like on
the job site and like in the bathroom spitting up
blood and yeah, because like you just and then I
would you know, come back and just like be like
blood on my shirt and just still be, you know,
working away. And then when I finally slowed down and
like was like is when I got pregnant. That's when
I really was like, Okay, I can't work anymore. I
(29:31):
really have to focus on my body and I can't
push the limits like I've been pushing with work, and
and I was okay with that, Like I was proud
of myself. I got my college degree. They said I
shouldn't do that. I started working crazy hours that author
Anderson is an accountant. Shouldn't have probably done that, you know,
got pregnant, probably shouldn't have done that. But to me again,
like I always say that I want to live the
(29:53):
life that I would live no matter what if I'd
see it or not. And I can honestly say when
I look at everything I've done in my life, so
you have never gotten the way. And yeah, now as
it held me back some and like had I have
I mean yes, have I had to climb lots of
mountains to get to where I am. But I'm okay
because I am strong.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
He's strong, so strong.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
So what did all of you think about Scott when
this came?
Speaker 10 (30:22):
I mean, first of all, like we love we love
Scott more than anything, more than I mean, we have
some nicknames for Scott. And you know you're talking about
how earlier about how they're the best looking couple or whoever.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Was saying that.
Speaker 10 (30:34):
Well in the in the hospital, they called him barbian,
barbian mountain, kin mountain.
Speaker 9 (30:42):
I had a beard.
Speaker 7 (30:43):
Because I mean, you're probably unshaved in a while.
Speaker 10 (30:48):
We love Scott, I think when Scott first, I mean,
we're very protective.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
I was.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
Protective and I think we could say it of.
Speaker 10 (30:55):
All our husbands, do you know what I mean, like
we're all of our boyfriends that we went through all
of you know, I mean, yeah, you were very protective.
And actually it was probably a line that we had
to learn. I even remember with Jason like being like listen, now,
I'm your person.
Speaker 11 (31:14):
I mean like because.
Speaker 12 (31:17):
Where they even our husbands would be like, wait, hey,
I'm married in charge. I don't want but you know,
like I determine what certain things, certain things, you know,
And so there was probably some struggles with.
Speaker 10 (31:29):
Each of the husbands when that happened, just to get
that balance because we were so much.
Speaker 9 (31:35):
We were a force everywhere and very protective, you know,
of all of us, Yeah.
Speaker 7 (31:40):
Everybody, even Jason. At at your wedding, Jason was like,
I know I married actually, but I did also marry.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
On same with same with Brandon.
Speaker 10 (31:50):
I mean, like you know, Jason and Brandon and Patrick,
I mean, they they were all there while we were
in college and you know and experienced you know, well
y'all got married young.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
Yeah we did.
Speaker 10 (32:01):
Yeah, yeah, So, I mean we loved Scott's from the beginning.
Speaker 9 (32:06):
Of course, Scott.
Speaker 6 (32:07):
Protect us, but I was you know, when we first
met Scott, we were really taken back by how strong
you was, you know, and we knew that you needed
that in your life. Somebody is gonna advocate for you
and like go to the balls of the wall, you know.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
And he's done that.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
He's been He's really just.
Speaker 5 (32:25):
Been your perfect partner exactly.
Speaker 6 (32:27):
I mean, God totally created y'all two together, you know.
Speaker 12 (32:31):
For sure.
Speaker 10 (32:32):
I think he's taught me so much to just being
in the hospital and watching him from the advocate, from
a patient advocacy perspective, and like It's helped me in
my life when caring for my dad or caring for
you know, you know that you don't you don't just
take you don't just take the word of I mean,
we love doctors, you know, but they're humans too, you
(32:53):
know what I mean, So like they're you know that
we always have to be advocating, you know, And.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Well you knew your loved one needs and that's how
Scott fell. And the part where
Welcome to the Tupash Podcast. I am Gabrielle. I'm a
former New York Mafia princess originally from Austria. I am
the mother of three and the owner of Tubash Boutique,
and here with my beautiful co host Masela my daughter.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hello, I'm Marcella. I'm a dancer, choreographer, model and designer
for Tupash and I say whatever I want.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
My name is Cruz. I am a stylist. I also
own the Society Salon in the Design District and I
am a short, little Mexican with the big personality.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
What will they say next? Welcome to the Tupash Podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Well, hello everybody.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Today we have probably one of the most exciting episodes
we have ever had on ye show. We have the
wonderful Selma Mitchell back with her four best friends since
grade school, Correct Lifelines and Amy Amy Bonson.
Speaker 5 (01:15):
Did I say that right?
Speaker 6 (01:16):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Okay, Courtney, Holly, Ashley Riley and Brittany Hoffman. They are
all here with Salva Mitchell. Salva Mitchell was on our
show before and we have started a new thing with
Selva where we are recording podcasts in chapter form to
create a book for her. Later on, and Salva is
(01:41):
the most amazing, powerful, strong survivor with cystic fibrosis, and
we are continuing our series with her with all the friends,
and we'll find out get to know all the details.
But they have their memories of when they grew up
and they found out facistic fibrosis and how they have
(02:02):
helped her through two transplants and getting ready for third.
Speaker 7 (02:06):
Yep, they're the reason why I'm still alive.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Wow. So I will say too, I got a lot
of messages about Selah from your first one, A lot
of people very emotional, very impressed, like can't believe your story.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
So and that does not happen.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We've done three hundred plus episodes and I got the
most messages about you, like what No.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
I think it's your strength.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
And honestly, sometimes when I'm having like a bad day,
I'm like, oh my.
Speaker 7 (02:35):
God, really I can lift you up. That give me purpose.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Yes, So I wanted to tell you that before we started. Yeah,
and I had one question to start the show off.
But as you pursue your third transplant, you have gone
to Duke and gotten all the tests done, would you
give everyone an update how that went and where we
are at today, yes.
Speaker 7 (02:59):
And well was it was very exciting and I felt
really good there. My gut felt like that will be
the place that saves my life. I met with my surgeon,
which was very good looking.
Speaker 8 (03:11):
By the way, every surgeon that saves her life.
Speaker 9 (03:19):
Is there a story?
Speaker 7 (03:21):
Is that like a syndrome thing or like? But yeah,
well even yeah, even my husband was like he was
so cool. I mean, and you think about it, it's like,
I mean, I was like, you're going to save my life,
you know, And I was like and I'm all for it,
like I trust you. And so we had a really
good conversation and he felt good about it. He was
(03:41):
just like, dude, you got to gain some weight or
before I put you on the table. But yeah, I've
met with so many people and they were just it's
just so cool how this is just like something they
do every day, you know, like cut people open and
save their lives.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
So when you first met him, like how did he
tell us more details?
Speaker 7 (04:01):
He like kind of scruffy and like tall and just
just walked in like he owned the room and just
he's like and so he was just like like, so
is it you and another guy He's like, yeah, I
got another guy, Yeah, like I can do you know, well,
well we can do this, Like he just acted like
it was just something he does every day, which I
guess he does. So I felt really good.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Has he done a third long time?
Speaker 7 (04:23):
Yes, he had to tend thirteen?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Oh he is so wild, I think.
Speaker 7 (04:27):
With alongside Yeah. So yeah, So I mean I'm I
felt good about him. Like slicing me open. I was like,
this could happen. And I basically was like, I promise
you if you say yes to this, I will survive,
Like I will, like, come me open, I can do this,
like I know my will can do this, And so
(04:48):
I was just wanting him to have confidence in me,
like I have confidence in him.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
I can tell you when I edited your shows, I
know beyond a shadow of adult that you can do
it do It's like it's just a knowledge that is
unbelievable because when you don't know, when someone doesn't know you,
and you hear that, then you kind of go, that's
not a really tough one. But with you, I have
no doubt at all.
Speaker 7 (05:13):
I feel it, and I just because I mean, I
do have such an amazing support system and I do
have him like calming me and keeping me all together
because I mean, you know, again, like I said before,
when I say all this out loud, I'm like, wait,
what did I just say that? But I mean it
just that it makes sense. That's just how I feel,
and I do believe it's my faith keeping me level
(05:35):
headed and calm. And so what tests did you have
to do? Well, Like one of them was this like
heart catheter thing where it went through my like my
like I don't I don't even know my thigh or
something in all the way up to check out my heart.
And it was funny because they wanted to sedate me,
but if they sedated me, I couldn't get on the
plane that night. And I was like, I promise you,
(05:57):
I will not move. Do not sedate me. Just let
me just this observation.
Speaker 9 (06:01):
She's hard.
Speaker 7 (06:03):
And I was like they were just like, well, if
you move, this is a problem. Like, guys, I promise.
And so of course I'm just sitting there while they're like,
you know, feeding this wire to my heart and I'm like,
I told you, guys, this is fine. Like I'm like
I can do this all day long. And so again
it was just there. So I think they I proved
to all the people around me that like I don't
mess around, like like I respect what they do and
(06:24):
they have to respect that I can do this because
I really felt like I had to sell myself, like
I mean, they don't just give lungs to anyone and respectfully.
So but I am all a met like I'm ready
for some new ones, like I'm I've gotten I'm like
twenty eight percent now since the last time I talked
to y'all, So I'm getting a little more, a little
more winded, and yoga's a little bit more hard, and so.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Yeah, you know, I did they say, like the last
time you were thirty right.
Speaker 7 (06:54):
Right, yeah, So when I was there, it was actually
thirty four percent, and I was definitely They were like
looking at me kind of like you're early, but this
is good that you're here. And I'm kind of like,
I know I'm early, but like I swear so like
in a month because I know how this works, Like
I can feel myself declining, like you know as we speak,
(07:14):
you know, it's just and I am. I mean, I
was thirty four percent, I'm twenty eight percent, and I
feel it every day. I'm okay with that because I
I mentally have to tell myself, like you're breathing, you're
still alive, because your breath doesn't give you the satisfaction.
So you have to like mentally tell yourself that you're
breathing and you're getting air. But yeah, I do think
(07:37):
that there's no red flags. They were like no red
flags none. Yeah, like so far, so good, Like every
test I did, I passed. Yeah in the yeah, and
like everything, like even the psychologists, like because the psychologists
and you know, they're like, do you do drugs? Like no,
like I do not, I can't prescribe, yeah, exactly exactly well,
(07:59):
and then you know, but even like xanax, they're like,
you know, ever was, well I would have a xanax
because I mean I'm twenty eight percent like and they're
just like, well, we really want you to not be
on that anymore because I guess they don't want like
a pill head getting new lungs. And I totally get that.
So I'm proving to them that my lifestyle and that
I deserve these lungs that you know.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
That, so no red flags And then what did they say,
like last time you told us that you have to
be it has to be the right time, Like, yeah,
you can't be like too healthy in the table. It's
did they say anything about that?
Speaker 7 (08:35):
I mean, because that's where I am right now. I'm
I'm not sick enough for the table, right and so
I'm not sick enough, but like I cannot be like
how I was last time. You guys all know how
that was, and I y'all know better than I do
how that was because I was like to sleep while
y'all did all the hard work.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
So maybe how should we start? How do you want
to do this? Do you want to start from when
you first met Selvo?
Speaker 8 (08:59):
Do you?
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Well?
Speaker 10 (09:01):
I was just gonna like tag on that for a second.
You know, I remember right before her second and right
before she really kind of did go into lung failure.
There's one post that's always stuck with me, and I'm
not going to quote it perfectly, but you know, her
writing is amazing. I mean so, but it was something
like cut me open and unleash the beast, And it's
(09:22):
so true. Yeah, when Selah gets into beast mode, there's
no stopping her, you know, And like she can turn
on beast mode in a moment's notice, you know. And
I think that our job is to try to like
prep her up to get into the hype man, you know,
and then she's just there and I mean there's no
stopping her. And that's why you know you saw that
(09:44):
and you knew she was gonna make it. Like there's
no question. People always ask us, are you worried? Are
you No? No, I mean this is gonna work. God
is yet, and we've.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
Seen miracle after miracles.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
Yeah, so that helps.
Speaker 10 (09:56):
I mean, what a beautiful ability for us to be
friends and these miracles to help us have faith in
God like we do. You know that's all because of
the faith she has and how she and Scott are
just amazing and trusting.
Speaker 7 (10:10):
But I will say that pistmode doesn't. I mean that
beist mode comes from you guys. Like, so it's like
a circle, right, Like I'm strong, but because I have y'all,
you know what I mean. So it's like we're endless together.
I've never felt alone, and it's even it's kind of
like I'm like walking on this like wobbly tightrope and
(10:31):
I am like gonna fall any minute, but I don't
care because I have all you with like the safety net,
just waiting like okay, we're here, We're ready, We're ready
to catch you. And that's how it's been since we've
been little, like since college since So I'm just again,
the only way I can do this is because of
my faith in you guys, And so I know y'all
give me so much credit for being a beast because
(10:53):
I am, but because of y'all.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
So it is really quite rare to have yeah, no kidding,
five friends like this go through life ups and downs
and be this close to be I mean, that's unbelievable.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
It's very rare to see.
Speaker 7 (11:10):
Well, and I do read that to unconditional love, like
they have put up with so much of my crap,
I mean, and they love me for me and I
can be me and y'all accept me for who I am.
And I think that's how we've survived. How long have
we all been together?
Speaker 5 (11:27):
Decades?
Speaker 7 (11:30):
In college? We had some in college, we had some
screaming fights like how how could you do that? Like
calling me out on my crap?
Speaker 1 (11:37):
You know?
Speaker 9 (11:37):
And we.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
I mean, that's the thing, it's not one way. I mean,
we get.
Speaker 10 (11:45):
I mean, Soah gives us so much joy and guidance
and love and obviously her inspiration is amazing. But like
you know, I mean outside of even all of this,
you know, she's just amazing friend, you know, So you
know it's balanced, and I think that's right. It's unconditional love,
(12:05):
but we also don't take advantage of each other, you know,
and there's a fine line in friendships.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, that's still remarkable.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
Actually, I think so too.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
I would like to know how it all started.
Speaker 9 (12:18):
I know too.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
We all all went to the same school. How it
all happened.
Speaker 10 (12:23):
I think we all have a little bit of a
different story with that. Yeah, I mean, so Sela and
I met the first time when we were three years old.
So we were in dance together at three years old,
and Amy was right along with us, and so we
danced our whole lives together. We ended up going to
(12:44):
the same middle school, you know, and then the same
high school, and then the same college, and then the
same weddings, and then having children the same years, and.
Speaker 5 (12:52):
So it just keeps going.
Speaker 10 (12:53):
But for me, like I mean, that's where I first
remember Selah is in dance class.
Speaker 5 (12:59):
Yeah, and you know, sef wasn't a big thing, like
I mean, we.
Speaker 7 (13:02):
Had no idea, I mean, had no idea.
Speaker 10 (13:06):
That's one thing that her parents have just done a
remarkable job of just raising someone who is normal, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 5 (13:14):
It doesn't focus on their condition, but.
Speaker 7 (13:16):
It would be it even just when you talk about kids.
But like Ash and I and we all we'd all
go on vacation together and a should be like, hey,
I need to pump. Why don't you do your lung treatment?
So well together?
Speaker 8 (13:27):
And I was the best clapper. I will say, yeah, yeah,
I am a.
Speaker 10 (13:31):
Very good clap But it was also fun because I
could get all my frustration out on her too.
Speaker 7 (13:39):
And just so she she'd be pumping and because I
couldn't breathe, Like we'd be down at the beach and
I'm like, I gotta do a treatment, and she's like, well,
I got a pump, let's go.
Speaker 5 (13:48):
And so she would just be to pregnant a long time.
Speaker 7 (13:51):
Yeah you were pregnant.
Speaker 9 (13:53):
And how many children?
Speaker 7 (13:56):
I have?
Speaker 5 (13:56):
Four and four?
Speaker 7 (13:59):
Damn Yeah. So I think we just as I got sicker,
we adjusted and they just accepted me for how I
even knew what they needed to do, and they would
step up. Think about all the times in the hospital
and we were like in seventh grade. We have funny
stories about that. Oh yes, Courney is our history.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
She is the historian of the group.
Speaker 7 (14:21):
Remember, like I'd be in the hospital and the therapist,
the rest story therapists would be popping my back and
the kid y'all would I call us kids because we
were kids back then, but us as kids would make
posters for me and inappropriate posters.
Speaker 4 (14:35):
By the way, why did we make that in ninth grade?
Speaker 11 (14:40):
It was fun because it's funny. It was something to chew,
and we didn't think about the fact that you were
going to see it.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
Got so much trouble in the hospitals, like because a party,
And yeah, I would not let that happen today, Like
they were restory therapists was clapping my back. She would
read it there read the posters. One of them was like,
what's what was it was? I'm not going to actually
a position.
Speaker 8 (15:09):
I don't think I didn't record record, but we were
in rad It does show that like part of how
you get through it is just by making my laugh.
Speaker 5 (15:18):
However, you can do laugh in the most you know.
Speaker 11 (15:22):
We try to get her to that point where she's
like really laughing, but it's not going to kick her
into the deep, deep level fine line there's a fine line.
Speaker 7 (15:31):
The grandma laughed, however, are you doing it? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (15:34):
By Court, you had a different experience.
Speaker 9 (15:36):
You knew her. We went to.
Speaker 12 (15:38):
School together since we were five, and our parents live
still to this day three streets away.
Speaker 9 (15:43):
So I found at your shaving cream.
Speaker 4 (15:46):
Party a shaving cred.
Speaker 7 (15:48):
You didn't have a shaving my dad was my dad's idea.
He was so proud of that idea.
Speaker 9 (15:51):
I can't even remember. But we had a shaving cream
fight in your backyard.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
And when I had I probably had to do a treatment.
That night, we had a slumber party.
Speaker 12 (15:57):
Remember, we wanted to watch the movie Alex The Life
of a Child and your mom wouldn't let us.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
Oh was that because it was about Seattle?
Speaker 4 (16:05):
It was, That's what.
Speaker 9 (16:06):
I told us about it.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I can't even remember what grade was, second Yeah, yeah, wow,
and but.
Speaker 7 (16:14):
Yeah, but then we would remember what I would take
you to school.
Speaker 12 (16:18):
She was my ride to school and I got pulled
over on the first day of our sophomore year.
Speaker 7 (16:21):
Leave it to me.
Speaker 9 (16:23):
She was because I got.
Speaker 12 (16:25):
I got because she got a hardship. And when we
got her hardship. Her or died at the McDonald's on
Brown Trail and everyone.
Speaker 7 (16:35):
Yeah, those cars were. But yeah, I mean I can't
believe your parents, Like I was fifteen driving this around,
but I could. Hardship is basically so I was like, oh,
I need I need my car so I can go
home and do treatments, which is true. But I also
was like fifteen and driving a car, so we I.
Speaker 11 (16:53):
Don't think you ever left at school, so I didn't
really even want to because we wanted to all have
driving a car, so.
Speaker 12 (17:02):
We Yeah, so I was always no because she never
left school one time because we were like, you're for
sure getting the hardship.
Speaker 7 (17:11):
Used it to like, you know, drive around late at
night when I wasn't even supposed and we.
Speaker 9 (17:14):
Got more on Saturday.
Speaker 7 (17:15):
When were the time we got pulled over when your
grandma was home.
Speaker 5 (17:18):
Yeah, there's a lot of stories and you've.
Speaker 7 (17:20):
Lied to the copy.
Speaker 9 (17:24):
Is a hardship.
Speaker 10 (17:26):
I think the times he never asks for anything, like
you know she could have had.
Speaker 5 (17:32):
She never knows special parking. Wait, there's so many things.
Speaker 10 (17:35):
Yeah, I didn't want she she didn't want that, you know,
and that's partly why your mindsets so strong.
Speaker 7 (17:40):
Well, yeah, y'all got mad at me because I was like,
I can have a handicap parking spot at school. And
I was like, I'm not doing that. That is you know,
that's stupid, I know what. And you were like, no, dude,
do it like the handicap like marketing.
Speaker 9 (17:51):
Especially since you were taking me.
Speaker 7 (17:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
Yeah, uh so dance dance school, college.
Speaker 7 (18:01):
This is so yeah.
Speaker 10 (18:02):
So the four of us were inseparable, these four like
starting in probably eighth grade, dance dance school.
Speaker 4 (18:14):
Cool and they and then and then you went to college.
I went to the same college I.
Speaker 7 (18:21):
Did, and I went but she was basically it was
like she died. But so I went early to Challenge. Yeah,
we were in the Challenge program, but I had so
it was by myself. I went to college and that
first day, right, it was about the first It was
the first day I see this tall, gorgeous blonde I mean,
(18:41):
because I mean she's like, what are you like five
tons skinny? Like last were days we had to go
to some meeting in the dorm and I was like,
do you want to go with me? And you were
just like yeah, And then literally did not like separate
from that.
Speaker 11 (18:59):
That damn pretty moved out of her dorm and I
left the girl and moved down with SOA because she.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Had extra bid so from the first day.
Speaker 7 (19:09):
Yes, yeah, I mean it was just God knew exactly well.
When I love this too, is that your mom was
praying for you to have really good friends like in college.
He was like, that was in your mom. I love
your mom, and she was just and I really believe
she prayed for you and us to find each other
because that, I mean, I needed you so badly because
this would be was my first time without my safety
(19:30):
net of people who knew who I was and what
disease I had. I mean I had that huge treatment
I remember. I mean, I'm sure you were just like
what you were, just like okay, let's do your treatment.
And I mean you were just so loving and and
we were just inseparable. I mean literally every day we
were together, I reached attached, like to the point where
you're like, I'm in this art class for four hours
(19:52):
and I was like, ew, let's let's cancel that because
we got to lay out that like.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Time and interfered with my I could mix, you know.
Speaker 7 (20:00):
So we were like to the point where we I mean,
and then so it was my birthday.
Speaker 9 (20:05):
Right, weked a little bit.
Speaker 10 (20:07):
I'm sure back at the home.
Speaker 7 (20:11):
We've never had a new we have a new friend.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
You're older, and so I was like, you guys are
going to love her, and like.
Speaker 9 (20:19):
Do we like anybody else?
Speaker 7 (20:21):
Now?
Speaker 6 (20:22):
Knowing y'all, I'm so surprised, Like it was the map dress, I.
Speaker 7 (20:28):
Mean, the gorgeous blonde in the map dress, and and
so I remembered, I was like late in Courty was
pissed me. She was like because I was like my birthday.
But she's like, where were you? We've been in the
parking lot, like.
Speaker 9 (20:38):
We were going to Austin.
Speaker 11 (20:39):
We got him going, we were we were packing them
up in Waco and then I.
Speaker 6 (20:45):
Had a driver back in the middle. Then like early
that morning I could miss class.
Speaker 7 (20:48):
Yeah yeah, and then we were a mess.
Speaker 9 (20:51):
I don't remember.
Speaker 11 (20:52):
But as soon as we met Britt and yeah, we
met we meet her in the parking lot.
Speaker 9 (20:56):
We see her and we're like, well, I don't know.
I was too busy yelling.
Speaker 4 (21:00):
Ban is probably like who is this girl?
Speaker 7 (21:04):
And then again, I mean it was just God knew
who I needed in my life to keep me alive.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
And so was ever any jealousy issues or I.
Speaker 7 (21:14):
Mean we're also talk.
Speaker 9 (21:17):
Different.
Speaker 5 (21:19):
We've never we're all.
Speaker 7 (21:20):
So different that Like for me in college, Brittany was
the tall blonde and I was the short burnette, and
we just were on well we already talked talked about
that zebra, but no, yeah, I we just again it
was just something I think. I don't know, maybe when
we're dealing with what I deal with every day, you
(21:42):
kind of like the little things just we were they
were just happy to keep me alive.
Speaker 11 (21:46):
I think I don't think we lived like that think
about it like that college.
Speaker 9 (21:50):
I mean I never thought like, oh, I'm keeping.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Were still like care free days.
Speaker 9 (21:55):
Really, I mean, I don't think that.
Speaker 7 (21:56):
Started till way later, like after babies baby.
Speaker 12 (22:00):
I mean maybe when you were pregnant with Bella is
when it kind.
Speaker 10 (22:03):
Of all I think the first time, which probably you
haven't even talked about, like completely not related to c
F and I don't know if you want me to share.
Speaker 5 (22:11):
Oh, but I mean.
Speaker 10 (22:13):
Like she had a crazy, just random situation where she
had this tumor that they found that was the side
of the basketball and all of a sudden, she wasn't
she like fairly walked all the time because there was
this huge tumor taking all her blood so she literally
had to go into surgery.
Speaker 5 (22:32):
I'll never forget. It was spring break.
Speaker 10 (22:36):
Sophomore year in college college, and.
Speaker 5 (22:40):
I was going to call it.
Speaker 4 (22:40):
It was like, yeah, she was.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
It was sick.
Speaker 10 (22:44):
They had to cut her open, explore toy. They had
no idea, no idea. I was there and that was
the first time that I think you actually saw like Jesus,
like you know what I mean, in the room with you,
you know. And I think that was a pivotal part
for my faith because you, I mean, we were already faithful,
but like to experience that at such a young Tell
(23:04):
me about that.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
So I basically died on the table. And that was
why it was so hard to diagnose, because I am
used to fighting hard to be me right, So I was.
I didn't have any energy. I was so anemic I
had I was like pale. Remember that time, Amy, I was.
Speaker 4 (23:24):
I found her in the stairs and I was like,
are you all right?
Speaker 11 (23:26):
Where are you going?
Speaker 5 (23:27):
Are you going to? Are you going to class? And
I was like does it call it?
Speaker 11 (23:30):
Like, let's sit down right here, because I seriously thought
she was going to faint on the spot.
Speaker 7 (23:34):
Well, I had all those accounting books and I was
like hauling my butt to class to class, not knowing
that I was physically dying. Like inside, did feel it?
Speaker 1 (23:43):
Ever?
Speaker 7 (23:44):
Yeah, well people would hug me and it would hurt,
and I didn't. I thought it was just my lungs,
like I thought everything in CF and I thought my
lungs were just hurting or swollen or inflame. But it
was because all my organs were being pushed out. I mean,
this is like a whole nother story. But I did,
like Ashley said, it did prepare me to use my
(24:04):
faith to fight, because I was like, what is this
to the point where it was during spring break? So
I went into the hospital and then they accidentally found
how the They saw the flow of the blood going
into something and they were like, some things we're not well.
So then doctor Vler, who saved my life. Doctors are awesome,
(24:25):
by the way. But doctor Valler was like, look, I
don't know what's wrong with you. I can't figure it out.
I can send you back to school and we'll just
I was and I was like, huh, something is wrong
with me. You're gonna fix me. I don't know what
it is. He's like, okay, well then because he basically
had to tell my mom to leave, like yeah, to
not going well because like I had to make the
(24:48):
decision of story because basically he was going to cut
me open and I.
Speaker 11 (24:50):
Was by that time, So you can make your decisions
at that point, which I'm sure was incredibly she was
very emotional.
Speaker 7 (24:56):
Well yeah, and well she had a teat. He didn't
want my mom to the burden of making this decision
because if I did die, and again she was like,
this is her decision. So I was like eighteen, I
don't know where I got the strength. I mean, I
do know where I got it, but I just knew
something had to change because I was I couldn't live
like this, And so yeah, I was like, nope, you're
(25:17):
gonna take me in there. Figured out he cut me open.
It literally came like he said, it just flew out,
and it was it flew out. He had to like
sew me back together. He thinks he's still to this
day last like and that he showed me back wrong,
you know, but anyways, yeah, and so yeah, he was
just like I just kind of put you back together.
(25:38):
I died on the table, like brought me back. And
but we had a class together in college wait was it, Mike?
Speaker 5 (25:46):
It was microeconomics, and.
Speaker 7 (25:47):
So I didn't I since he was during spring break,
I was able to miss only a week of that
and then another week of school, and so I was like,
I still got like a three point seventy five that.
Speaker 6 (25:57):
Yeah, you came back and killed it in school. I
was like, okay, I have no excuse. I had like
a point nine.
Speaker 7 (26:05):
It's got to change. It was just again it's like
I don't. I just like for me now I look
back and I'm like, dude, who cares about school? But that
was like I was like, Ashley, okay.
Speaker 9 (26:14):
That she was going to make it.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
Yeah, I was like, and she just went back to
being normal, do you know what I mean?
Speaker 5 (26:19):
And just living like that didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Tell me about your faith experience in that, well.
Speaker 7 (26:25):
I think that was when I really learned how to
lean on my faith. I knew I always had my
faith and Jesus is my savior, and I knew that right,
but I never had felt it. And I do believe
like faith is a choice, right, and you can, but
I mean, it's not always a feeling, right. So every
day you wake up and you choose to have faith
(26:47):
and not every day do you feel him and not
every day, so to me, you have to choose to
have faith. But sometimes you can feel him. And during
my worst times, when I'm my sickest is when I
feel him all day long. And it's the most beautiful thing.
And to the point where I have told Ashley before
that when I am healthy, I miss him because I
(27:09):
don't lean my faith as much and I don't feel
him because I am so focused on life and doing
my thing that when I'm sick is when I feel him.
And anyways, and so that that really put me in,
really felt my faith during those times when I am sick.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
So for you guys, that's your first like knowledge, Okay, whoa, Yeah,
that was the closest like that was our first death experience.
Speaker 9 (27:35):
But I still think we were even you know, we
were still young.
Speaker 4 (27:38):
Even then at that time.
Speaker 9 (27:40):
It was more like, oh, that didn't even.
Speaker 4 (27:42):
See it, wasn't.
Speaker 11 (27:45):
She snipped that out and she's good to go now,
especially because she kicked, right, she kicked.
Speaker 12 (27:49):
I mean, like remember in the hospital you were on
morphine and you said, let's play a joke on my mom,
and so like her mom's elevator and she's like I'm
going to lay on the ground and when she gets
out like something's wrong.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
I was eighteen, I'm pressure. I'm like, okay, why.
Speaker 7 (28:09):
Not, like said, but I was really high on morphine.
Speaker 12 (28:16):
She was, but I'm saying so still we were very
young at eighteen, and so I don't know if even
after that that we were like, oh she could get
really sick.
Speaker 7 (28:26):
Yeah, I mean I was. I remember being I needed
to be on morphine. I was in a lot of pain,
like time were organs. My organs had literally had to
go back together, and you're tiny. It was just and
I yeah, it was. That was a whole crazy I forget.
Speaker 10 (28:40):
I guess for me, that was the first time I
remember you being like I felt God like I saw
I mean, and he is the only way I made.
Speaker 5 (28:48):
I made that, you know, And.
Speaker 10 (28:49):
I think for me, like just that was like a
really big faith moment for me. You know, my faith
grew through her faith growing you know as well. But no,
we didn't. We was just I'm out there having fun.
And I mean she was an accountant.
Speaker 5 (29:07):
She worked all those crazy eighty hour weeks with Arthur.
Was it Arthur?
Speaker 7 (29:11):
And yeah, I mean I can remember being like on
the job site and like in the bathroom spitting up
blood and yeah, because like you just and then I
would you know, come back and just like be like
blood on my shirt and just still be, you know,
working away. And then when I finally slowed down and
like was like is when I got pregnant. That's when
I really was like, Okay, I can't work anymore. I
(29:31):
really have to focus on my body and I can't
push the limits like I've been pushing with work, and
and I was okay with that, Like I was proud
of myself. I got my college degree. They said I
shouldn't do that. I started working crazy hours that author
Anderson is an accountant. Shouldn't have probably done that, you know,
got pregnant, probably shouldn't have done that. But to me again,
like I always say that I want to live the
(29:53):
life that I would live no matter what if I'd
see it or not. And I can honestly say when
I look at everything I've done in my life, so
you have never gotten the way. And yeah, now as
it held me back some and like had I have
I mean yes, have I had to climb lots of
mountains to get to where I am. But I'm okay
because I am strong.
Speaker 5 (30:12):
He's strong, so strong.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
So what did all of you think about Scott when
this came?
Speaker 10 (30:22):
I mean, first of all, like we love we love
Scott more than anything, more than I mean, we have
some nicknames for Scott. And you know you're talking about
how earlier about how they're the best looking couple or whoever.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Was saying that.
Speaker 10 (30:34):
Well in the in the hospital, they called him barbian,
barbian mountain, kin mountain.
Speaker 9 (30:42):
I had a beard.
Speaker 7 (30:43):
Because I mean, you're probably unshaved in a while.
Speaker 10 (30:48):
We love Scott, I think when Scott first, I mean,
we're very protective.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
I was.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
Protective and I think we could say it of.
Speaker 10 (30:55):
All our husbands, do you know what I mean, like
we're all of our boyfriends that we went through all
of you know, I mean, yeah, you were very protective.
And actually it was probably a line that we had
to learn. I even remember with Jason like being like listen, now,
I'm your person.
Speaker 11 (31:14):
I mean like because.
Speaker 12 (31:17):
Where they even our husbands would be like, wait, hey,
I'm married in charge. I don't want but you know,
like I determine what certain things, certain things, you know,
And so there was probably some struggles with.
Speaker 10 (31:29):
Each of the husbands when that happened, just to get
that balance because we were so much.
Speaker 9 (31:35):
We were a force everywhere and very protective, you know,
of all of us, Yeah.
Speaker 7 (31:40):
Everybody, even Jason. At at your wedding, Jason was like,
I know I married actually, but I did also marry.
Speaker 5 (31:49):
On same with same with Brandon.
Speaker 10 (31:50):
I mean, like you know, Jason and Brandon and Patrick,
I mean, they they were all there while we were
in college and you know and experienced you know, well
y'all got married young.
Speaker 9 (32:00):
Yeah we did.
Speaker 10 (32:01):
Yeah, yeah, So, I mean we loved Scott's from the beginning.
Speaker 9 (32:06):
Of course, Scott.
Speaker 6 (32:07):
Protect us, but I was you know, when we first
met Scott, we were really taken back by how strong
you was, you know, and we knew that you needed
that in your life. Somebody is gonna advocate for you
and like go to the balls of the wall, you know.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
And he's done that.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
He's been He's really just.
Speaker 5 (32:25):
Been your perfect partner exactly.
Speaker 6 (32:27):
I mean, God totally created y'all two together, you know.
Speaker 12 (32:31):
For sure.
Speaker 10 (32:32):
I think he's taught me so much to just being
in the hospital and watching him from the advocate, from
a patient advocacy perspective, and like It's helped me in
my life when caring for my dad or caring for
you know, you know that you don't you don't just
take you don't just take the word of I mean,
we love doctors, you know, but they're humans too, you
(32:53):
know what I mean, So like they're you know that
we always have to be advocating, you know, And.
Speaker 7 (32:59):
Well you knew your loved one needs and that's how
Scott fell. And the part where
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