KELSI MICHELLE BROWN was born with beautiful red hair on 5/27/90 to the parents of E.G. and Jeanne Brown and was the sister of Kristen Brockman.  She was, as everyone assumed,  born “healthy” and was not diagnosed with cystic fibrosis until she was 2 ½ years old.  Neither of her parents were aware that they were CF carriers until she was diagnosed.  At that time CF was not part of the newborn testing but has since been added.  Doctors told them that the average life span at that time was 27 years old, but assured them that was excellent because they used to not make it to first grade.  They also told them there would be a cure within 10 years because “THE” CF gene had been discovered.  Years later it was found that there were actually over 1,200 gene mutations of CF so a cure has yet to be developed.

Her childhood years were fairly normal with quarterly visits to her CF doctor for check-ups.  At that time she only had to take enzymes for digestion and special vitamins. Most of her breathing treatments consisted of activities as she was really active and participated in swimming, softball and cheerleading.  Her lung functions were “good” for a cystic fibrosis patient.  She had an active life and loved being with friends.

At age 12 she developed cystic fibrosis related diabetes and had her first stay at University of Kentucky Hospital.  Cystic fibrosis patients usually have a hard time keeping on weight due to not absorbing fat and, by adding diabetes in the mix, made it hard to keep her blood sugars under control and gain weight at the same time.

Her high school years were a little more challenging with a few lung infections here and there.   She also developed cystic fibrosis related arthritis which made her uncomfortable at times but really didn’t let it stop her.  By the time she was a senior she had spent a couple of weeks in the hospital as well as had her first PICC line for at home antibiotics.  It was during this time that she developed a passion for fashion and everything that went with it!  She also excelled in art and loved doing paintings to make extra money.  Kelsi was eclectic and unique and had a penchant for flare and creativity.  She had a wicked sense of humor and had a vast array of friends.

Sending her to college out of state was a risk but she was determined to get a degree in fashion design, so she moved to Indianapolis with her beloved dog Chi Chi.  Her college rotated in  quarters rather than semesters and almost every single one of the weeks off in between quarters was spent at UK Hospital.  She was hospitalized a total of eight times during her three and a half years of  college.  She would return back to school with a PICC line and resume classes.  She even had a school trip to Europe to study fashion and didn’t let her CF stop her.  She finished her required classes and did her internship in Los Angeles.  Her dream was to move there and become a stylist.  She loved being in California!

After her internship she received her degree but her health had gone downhill somewhat and her parents urged her to stay at home for six months to rebuild her health before she tried to move.  Sadly, she was never able to return to California for work.  She did visit her sister many times by obtaining oxygen for her visit and mailing large boxes of medicine because by that time she was on over 25 different medicines, had a port, a G-tube and an insulin pump.  She donned her mask, strapped on the oxygen and off she went!

Over the next several years Kelsi was in the hospital over 100 days per year and was on home IV antibiotics nearly the whole time.  She lost her life from complications of cystic fibrosis at the age of 26, one year earlier than projected when she was diagnosed.

Today someone born with CF has an average life span of 40 years and new medicines are being researched and implemented daily.  Kelsi loved life and tried to live with CF as best she could.  She left an “Un-Bucket List” – a list of things she wanted to do but knew she would never get the opportunity to do.  Her sister has the list and is going to finish all the things on the list in Kelsi’s honor and raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation along the way.  Check out https://www.facebook.com/theunbucketlist/ on Face Book to see Kristen Brockman complete Kelsi’s Un-Bucket List!

The Kelsi Brown Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity organization that wants to do their part in honor of Kelsi to help others with CF and their families to give them a chance to live their best lives.

Kelsi Michelle Brown
05/27/90 – 09/04/16