23-year-old Courtney Faber of Johnson City has been sick for nearly two years, but it took about a year and a half of visits to doctors and specialists, blood draws and scans for a diagnosis to be reached. Courtney has Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO).

According to the National Center for Advancing Transitional Sciences, Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is an extremely rare disease in which Courtney’s body thinks there’s a bowel obstruction when there really isn’t. Because of problems with nerves, and muscles in the intestines, people with Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction struggle with issues involving the movement of food, fluid, and air through their intestines.

Before she became sick, Courtney worked as a volunteer EMT and an Assistant Manager at the Handicapped Children’s Association. She was athletic and independent. Although Courtney is still strong, determined, and funny, she’s had to learn how to adjust to being the patient instead of taking care of the patient.

Courtney is a fighter and dreams of the day that she’ll be able to go back to work and live independently again. One of the things needed for Courtney to be able to move closer to seeing that dream become a reality is that she will need a double intestinal transplant later this year and to help alleviate some of the financial burdens that Courtney will have to deal with following the surgery, a benefit has been planned.

The benefit for Courtney will be held at Ideal Bowling Alley on Jennings Street in Endicott on Saturday, July 21st from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost is $80 for a team of four. If you’d like more information or to put together a team, send an email to Kkeller@unionems.com. If you’re not able to make the benefit but want to make a monetary donation to help Courtney, you can also find out how to do that by emailing Kkeller@unionems.com or you can call Ken Keller at 607-235-6829‬.

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