A bride who was filmed dancing at her wedding reception while undergoing treatment for cystic fibrosis has gone viral.
“CF doesn’t stop no party ✨” was Dannika Evans’ opinion when she posted the video to her TikTok account, where she was doing her best to dance while wearing a special oscillation vest with a nebulizer stuck between her teeth.
20-year-old Dannika married her fiancé Bo Evans, 23, last June in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
20 might seem young in this day and age, but cystic fibrosis has the effect of altering the perception of time among patients, particular regarding how much is left.
Parents of children born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that leaves the patient extra-susceptible to lung infections, are often cautioned not to grow too close to them. Mortality from the disease is high among children, but many, like Dannika, make it to adulthood.
In Dannika’s case, a twice-a-day treatment involves a nebulizer and high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) vest to help open her lungs, which can often become clogged with overly-thick mucous-like secretions.
The bride-to-be did her treatment combo the morning of the wedding, and expected she might have to do it during the reception that evening.
“Knowing that I had to do treatments the night of my wedding, doing them on the dance floor with everyone I love surrounding me seemed like the best option,” Dannika told PEOPLE Magazine. “While energy was high, we had the time of our lives dancing the night away while I was shaking!”
The video of her dancing amassed 2.2 million views, and thousands of positive comments praising her bravery and attitude.
“As a CF patient myself I feel so much joy seeing other CF people sharing the happy parts of their life,” one comment read.
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“Most of the comments are from ‘CFers,’ respiratory therapists, or parents of CF patients,” Dannika said.
“Knowing that I can reach people just like me, gives me hope to keep posting my life journey with CF. I hope it gives people a new perspective of the disease. Cystic fibrosis can take, take, and take, but you can fight back! With joy, patience, and doing EVERYTHING you can to stay as healthy as possible.”
This does seem to be the prevailing attitude of those who survive childhood, with ‘CFers’ frequently incorporating truly impressive wellness and fitness regimes into their lives and remaining rigorously disciplined to them.
WATCH the video below…
@dannikaspam CF doesn’t stop no party ✨ #cysticfibrosis #weddingday #weddingdance #wedding #trends ♬ Inside Out Joy - Sweet Dreams & D'Michel Leb
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