“As a mother, it is hard to watch sometimes,” says Carrie. “I can’t do it for her and I just want her to live a normal life.” Normal life for Macy consists of breathing treatments up to four times per day, nutrition through a feeding tube at night and regular insulin treatments. She also had to have surgery to correct the valve between the esophagus and stomach. Going to the mall or to a friend’s for a sleepover is no small feat. Macy has to consider her blood sugar, breathing treatments and nutrition each time she leaves the house.
“She doesn’t know any differently since CF has always been a part of who she is,” Carrie continues. “We try not to place too many boundaries on her. If she can, Macy will find a way to live her life to the fullest.” Border-lining on the stubborn, Macy’s strong will is what sets her apart and enables her accomplish her goals, making her the one that nurses at Children’s Dayton Hospital wrangle to care for her during her treatments. Inspired by her caregivers, Macy dreams of becoming a NICU nurse.
While CF dictates much of Macy’s life, dance is the bigger part of who she is. She practices ballet, contemporary and jazz dance five days per week for two hours each of those days. She stays active not only because of her love for dance, but because regular exercise helps keep her airways clear. It only made sense then that when she learned that she qualified for a Special Wish, her first choice was to go to the TV show “Dancing With the Stars” and meet her favorite of the show’s dancer, Derek Hough.
So, in September of last year, Macy, her mother, aunt and sister departed for Los Angeles for the ultimate girls’ trip. They had an amazing tour of Warner Bros. Studios and sat on the set of “Friends “ and “The Big Bang Theory,” celebrated her sweet 16 at a hip restaurant in Hollywood and had another dinner on Santa Monica Beach where they were thoroughly entertained by beach performers.
“Meeting Derek Hough was definitely the highlight of the trip for Macy,” her mother remembers. “Everyone was so, so nice.” He and the entire cast of DWTS treated Macy and her family to a backstage tour and pictures, taking time out of their show preparations to entertain the family. They stayed for the live performances and were treated like royalty.
Another memorable part of the trip was a visit to the El Matador Beach, a truly spectacular beach off the Pacific Coast Highway with sea caves and large rock formations. Macy and her family were able to take some time and reflect on the limitless beauty of the ocean and imagine a life without boundaries. Macy Gehle hopes to live her life that same way.
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