Team Tess

Hello again friends and family,

Do you believe it’s been 21 years of Team Tess with the CF Great Strides Walk? We would love to have you join us again May 14th at Willow Bay in Onondaga Lake Park. Check-in 10:00, Walk 11:00.

Tess’s health has been so much better since starting Trikafta in August of 2019. You may remember that this was the drug that we had been waiting for that treats the underlying genetic cause of CF. During her first in-person doctor’s visit since Covid started with her CF care team, her lung function was up 10 points compared to 2 years ago. THAT’s a BIG deal! Also, this week she had an appointment with a surgeon to remove her g- tube she used to need for extra feedings, which she’s had since she was 12 years old. However, she is still tasked with making sure to eats more food because she burns extra calories even by just breathing – but the joy that has brought her has been amazing.

We are so proud that she is graduating from SUNY Brockport (the day before this walk!) with her BS in Public Health! She still has an internship, and she hasn’t decided if she will continue to grad school or look for a job in her field. The opportunities we were afraid to dream up! She also has been able to work part time at a chic boutique called Synple. Her school breaks in the past used to entail follow up appointments with Lung Transplant specialists. Needless to say, we are hoping to continue the healthy streak!!!

Tess hasn’t had a hospital stay in the last two years! (Knock on wood). You may recall that for many years, she was being admitted for IV antibiotics every few months. She has had some kidney stones, which is common for people with CF, but no IV antibiotics lately - which is a HUGE win! And, in other exciting news Taylor is graduating from high school in June and off to SUNY Cortland in August. We’ll officially be empty nesters!

Please snap a pic of the QR code or click on this link: http://fightcf.cff.org/goto/TeamTessSyracuse2022 to join Team Tess and consider a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through Team Tess portal. We are always so grateful for your support over the years because it has truly helped drugs like Trikafta become a reality and make a tangible difference in Tess’s life - and our lives as caregivers. We will stay in this fight until the end, until there is a cure for everyone with CF, and we hope you will continue to fight along with us. Thank you ALWAYS!!

Mary, Mike, Tess and Taylor Michaels
4953 Limehill Drive
Syracuse, NY 13215