WILMORE, Ky. (WKYT) - A Wilmore woman made quite the discovery after receiving results from a DNA kit, one that would lead to a shocking diagnosis.
A DNA kit can tell you a lot about your history, but what most people don’t know is that it can also tell you about your future.
“I’ve been dealing with it for years, it just didn’t have a face, didn’t have a name, I didn’t know what I was dealing with,” said Wilmore resident Debbie Moody.
In December 2022, Debbie Moody purchased a 23andMe DNA testing kit.
“My dad passed away from hemochromatosis, which is a blood disorder, and I wanted not only to connect with relatives but also to get the genetic part of it,” said Moody. “I knew that it would at least tell me if I was a carrier.”
She was a carrier, but not for the blood disorder.
“Cystic fibrosis, it had said that I had a variant,” said Moody.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes the body to produce thick mucus that can clog airways and other organs. Most people are diagnosed by age 2.
“For years, I would always have upper respiratory infections, and it would take me forever to get over them and a couple antibiotics to try to, you know, get me through,” said Moody. “I didn’t, you know, nobody ever realized that.”
Debbie also had issues digesting food and had been diagnosed with pancreatic enzyme insufficiency. She had thought for years it was caused by a previous surgery.
“While looking into what caused the pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, it basically said it could be my stomach surgery, or it could be cystic fibrosis,” said Moody.
Because of the DNA test kit results, she started pushing for further testing.
“Three weeks later, I get a call from her, and she said, I am absolutely blown away,” said Moody. “She said all it would tell me was you are a carrier.”
A diagnosis 62 years in the making, but one that Debbie says she’s grateful for.
“I’m so thankful for 23andMe for the information they provided, had they not, it’s no telling how long it would have been before I found out, and what damage it would have done to my lungs,” said Moody. “Right now, it’s attacked my pancreas, but, you know, it’s a matter of time for my lungs and other organs.”
Debbie has a mutation of cystic fibrosis, meaning it presents differently than normal cases. She’s now on the proper medicine and has this message for anyone reading.
“When something’s not right, you know it’s not right, you push to get the health care you deserve and you need,” said Moody. “Don’t give up.”
Debbie was excited to share that she has a new grandson, and they were thankful to learn he is not a cystic fibrosis carrier.
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