Shelby’s Story
At the age of 28, Shelby Kennedy was busy living her best life. She was working in fashion in New York City, making memories with a fabulous group of girlfriends, and starting her love story with her then-boyfriend and future husband, Mark. One day, while riding the subway to her annual check-up, she became disoriented. She couldn’t remember why she was on the subway or where she was going. Luckily, she eventually figured it out and made it to her appointment, where she explained what had happened to her doctor. She was advised to undergo an MRI. That brain scan revealed a mass, which was later confirmed to be a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumor.
Initially, Shelby started with the standard treatment methods that are used to fight this terrifying diagnosis—chemotherapy pills, six weeks of daily radiation sessions, and a cocktail of medications and supplements. Although she understood the severity and terrifying nature of the disease, Shelby refused to allow herself to become her diagnosis; rather, she maintained her positive attitude. Her whole life, Shelby was an overachiever; a fighter; someone who wouldn’t back down from a challenge, no matter the odds.
In addition to her fighting spirit, Shelby had an incredible amount of love and support from her husband, family, and friends. She had also managed, in her short 28 years, to garner a life-time’s worth of wonderful experiences to look back on and think about during her treatment. Speaking of treatment, Shelby was open to every treatment and exploring every option—whatever she had to do to live another day.
Shelby had a great team of doctors, practitioners, and healers. Her positivity and open-mindedness led her to work with a spectrum of amazing individuals. Shelby eventually ended up in the care of Dr. Raymond Chang and Dr. Fabio Iwamoto, through Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Through Dr. Chang, Shelby gained access and knowledge on treatment protocols and medications outside of the traditional medical model. Shelby benefitted from a combination of conventional and integrative treatments, such as: immunotherapy, gamma knife radiation, dendritic cell therapy, off-label drugs, acupuncture, PEMF therapy, and metaphysical healing. She also kept a strict cancer ketogenic diet and added an array of natural supplements. (Check out our "learn” page for more details on the treatments that Shelby utilized.)
Despite her diagnosis, Shelby continued to life a full life. Three years into her journey, she had a fairytale wedding, marrying her amazing and loving husband, Mark. It was a magical day and one that will never be forgotten by her family and friends. Shelby traveled the world with her husband and family for vacations, weddings, holidays, and special occasions. She was lucky to have traveled more than most people do in their one lifetime.
Always one to think about others, Shelby came up with a vision to help support those, like her, living with Glioblastoma. Using the resources and skills that she developed while working in the fashion industry, Shelby created Glio Leo!
In her words, a Glio Leo is any brave GBM (Glio) patient—which is every GBM patient—who has found their inner strength, with a brave heart, like a Lion (Leo). These individuals also come with the support and love of their pack—family and friends—who help to create a strong and united network of GBM warriors.
Shelby continued to embody that courageous warrior right up until her passing on June 27, 2022, almost five-and-a-half years after her diagnosis. An almost unheard of feat for a Glio.
Glio Leo will carry on through the work of her husband Mark, and her family and friends, all of whom wish to continue where Shel left off in order to raise awareness and help those affected by this disease. If anything, Shelby has taught us all that GBM is not a life sentence, but simply the beginning of a new journey, filled with hope, faith, and love.