FAdult Council Archives - Fanconi Cancer Foundation https://fanconi.org/people-category/fadult-council/ Pioneering Research for a Brighter Tomorrow. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:24:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://fanconi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-fanconi-favicon-32x32.png FAdult Council Archives - Fanconi Cancer Foundation https://fanconi.org/people-category/fadult-council/ 32 32 Brian Kuell https://fanconi.org/people/brian-kuell/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:20:22 +0000 https://fanconi.org/?post_type=app_person&p=6112 Brian, age 37, lives in sunny Florida with his wife, son, and their yellow lab, Molly. His motto has always been to live life to the fullest, even when facing the unknowns of medical procedures, and believes that positivity is one of the best medicines. Outside of his professional and advocacy work, Brian enjoys flying […]

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]]> Brian, age 37, lives in sunny Florida with his wife, son, and their yellow lab, Molly. His motto has always been to live life to the fullest, even when facing the unknowns of medical procedures, and believes that positivity is one of the best medicines.

Outside of his professional and advocacy work, Brian enjoys flying and spending time outdoors with his family.

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]]> Fatma Issak https://fanconi.org/people/fatma-issak-2/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:18:42 +0000 https://fanconi.org/?post_type=app_person&p=6111 As a council member, Fatma is committed to ensuring individuals with FA feel genuinely heard and supported. She hopes to create space where every person feels empowered to share their experiences, knowing their voices matter. Fatma’s experiences with transplant and chemotherapy shaped her commitment to advocacy. Feeling overlooked in her own care showed her how […]

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]]> As a council member, Fatma is committed to ensuring individuals with FA feel genuinely heard and supported. She hopes to create space where every person feels empowered to share their experiences, knowing their voices matter.

Fatma’s experiences with transplant and chemotherapy shaped her commitment to advocacy. Feeling overlooked in her own care showed her how vital it is for every person to feel seen, valued, and included in decisions about their health. As she gained confidence to share her story, she began helping others find their voices as well. Her dedication also extends to her volunteer work with Memorial Sloan Kettering, the Meyer Cancer Center at Cornell, New York-Presbyterian, and in her hometown of Zanzibar.

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]]> Faith Barbe https://fanconi.org/people/faith-barbe/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:16:04 +0000 https://fanconi.org/?post_type=app_person&p=6110 Faith lives in New York with her husband and five cats. She was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia at 43 after previously facing leukemia, breast cancer, oral cancer, and colon cancer. She is currently living with liver cancer, which is being closely monitored. Faith earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and health and human services and […]

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]]> Faith lives in New York with her husband and five cats. She was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia at 43 after previously facing leukemia, breast cancer, oral cancer, and colon cancer. She is currently living with liver cancer, which is being closely monitored.

Faith earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and health and human services and a master’s degree in audiology, both from the University at Buffalo. A former practicing audiologist, she has always had a passion for helping and advocating for others. Since her FA diagnosis, Faith has dedicated herself to supporting the FA community and advancing research and mental health initiatives.

Outside of advocacy, she enjoys crafting and art projects, cooking, baking, fostering cats, and traveling with her husband, Shane.

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]]> Emily Webster https://fanconi.org/people/emily-webster/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:12:52 +0000 https://fanconi.org/?post_type=app_person&p=6105 Emily, 27, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Sciences from the University of Delaware and currently serves as a Human Resources Director for a pediatric occupational and physical therapy company. Diagnosed with Fanconi anemia at age 20, Emily is passionate about sharing her story to raise awareness and foster connection within the FA […]

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]]> Emily, 27, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Sciences from the University of Delaware and currently serves as a Human Resources Director for a pediatric occupational and physical therapy company. Diagnosed with Fanconi anemia at age 20, Emily is passionate about sharing her story to raise awareness and foster connection within the FA community.

In her free time, she enjoys being on the water, tackling home improvement projects, and catching up with friends.

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]]> Maria Rodriguez https://fanconi.org/people/maria-rodriguez/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:57:04 +0000 https://fanconi.org/?post_type=app_person&p=4585 Maria, a 37-year-old mother from Colombia, is a business administrator with a background in pedagogy, education, and e-learning. For nearly a decade, she has taught English at a local university, where she takes pride in helping her students grow and succeed. Living with FA has brought its challenges, but it has also deepened Maria’s appreciation […]

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]]> Maria, a 37-year-old mother from Colombia, is a business administrator with a background in pedagogy, education, and e-learning. For nearly a decade, she has taught English at a local university, where she takes pride in helping her students grow and succeed.

Living with FA has brought its challenges, but it has also deepened Maria’s appreciation for resilience and the power of community. She approaches her work and family life with unwavering dedication, doing her best within her limits. Her son inspires her daily to keep pushing forward, showing him that even in tough times, commitment and effort can lead to success.

Maria values the support she has received from the FA community and looks forward to giving back in meaningful ways.

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]]> Anne Starner https://fanconi.org/people/anne-starner/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:53:53 +0000 https://fanconi.org/?post_type=app_person&p=4583 Anne was diagnosed with FA at age 20 while serving as a cadet at the Air Force Academy. When she began to struggle with the physical demands of her training, further testing revealed dangerous mutations in her bone marrow, leading to the urgent need for a transplant. With the support of her family, friends, doctors, […]

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]]> Anne was diagnosed with FA at age 20 while serving as a cadet at the Air Force Academy. When she began to struggle with the physical demands of her training, further testing revealed dangerous mutations in her bone marrow, leading to the urgent need for a transplant. With the support of her family, friends, doctors, and medical team, she successfully overcame the transplant. However, Anne had to step away from her military career due to FA, which was heartbreaking.

Despite this, she found a new purpose through her FA journey. Driven by her passion for science and genetics, Anne earned a BS in Biology and now researches RNA-binding proteins. She hopes to use her career to contribute to advancements in FA and cancer research.

In her free time, Anne loves spoiling her two dogs, spending time with loved ones, and enjoying hobbies like cookie decorating, fashion design, embroidery, and singing. She hopes her knowledge and experiences can help benefit the FA community.

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]]> Evan Connelly https://fanconi.org/people/evan-connelly/ https://fanconi.org/people/evan-connelly/#respond Thu, 30 Nov 2023 13:52:00 +0000 https://staging.fanconi.org/people/evan-connelly/ Evan Connelly, 22, is an individual with FA and a member of the FCF Adult Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. With five sisters, one of whom also has FA, Evan is committed to advocating for FA research and patient care. He actively engages […]

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]]> Evan Connelly, 22, is an individual with FA and a member of the FCF Adult Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. With five sisters, one of whom also has FA, Evan is committed to advocating for FA research and patient care. He actively engages with scientists, researchers, clinicians, industry professionals, and donors to promote awareness and support for the FA community.

Evan enjoys playing piano, 3D printing, technology, building and fixing computers, coding, learning about science, and cats.

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]]> https://fanconi.org/people/evan-connelly/feed/ 0 Dexter Sherrell https://fanconi.org/people/dexter-sherrell/ https://fanconi.org/people/dexter-sherrell/#respond Fri, 05 Aug 2022 11:01:00 +0000 https://staging.fanconi.org/people/dexter-sherrell/ Dexter Sherrell, 50, is an FA individual and recent college graduate. Passionate about helping others, Dexter enjoys learning to fly, traveling, and spending time with loved ones, including his dog. Active in advocacy, he focuses on expanding mental health services for the FA community and educating medical professionals about their specific needs. Dexter values the […]

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]]> Dexter Sherrell, 50, is an FA individual and recent college graduate. Passionate about helping others, Dexter enjoys learning to fly, traveling, and spending time with loved ones, including his dog. Active in advocacy, he focuses on expanding mental health services for the FA community and educating medical professionals about their specific needs. Dexter values the connections he has made within the FA community and is committed to encouraging others on their FA journeys.

Dexter enjoys encouraging others, helping them overcome challenging obstacles, and sharing about his faith and health journey through ministry and speaking engagements. He’s a proud descendant of Creek nation through his mother. His dream has always been to fly an airplane and to skydive, two goals he is currently pursuing! He lives in Georgia with his wife of 22 years, Mandy.

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]]> https://fanconi.org/people/dexter-sherrell/feed/ 0 Michelle Watkins https://fanconi.org/people/michelle-watkins/ https://fanconi.org/people/michelle-watkins/#respond Tue, 30 Mar 2021 12:38:00 +0000 https://staging.fanconi.org/people/michelle-watkins/ Michelle, 47, lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband and son. At 32, she was diagnosed with FA during her battle with breast cancer. A former practice manager in neurology, Michelle is a passionate advocate for both FA and cancer awareness, sharing her story in hopes of helping others navigate similar challenges. Having faced six […]

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]]> Michelle, 47, lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with her husband and son. At 32, she was diagnosed with FA during her battle with breast cancer. A former practice manager in neurology, Michelle is a passionate advocate for both FA and cancer awareness, sharing her story in hopes of helping others navigate similar challenges. Having faced six cancer diagnoses, she believes her journey offers valuable insights for those in the FA and cancer communities.

In her free time, Michelle enjoys traveling, fishing, camping with her family, and cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers. She remains committed to giving back through her advocacy efforts.

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