Kimi Wahl is a full-time Boeing employee and dedicated horse trainer at a local rescue in Junction City, Kansas. After being diagnosed with severe gastroparesis, Kimi refused to let life with a feeding tube define her. Although her journey began with significant pain and setbacks, finding the right medical team—and the right tools—helped her regain her independence and return to the activities she loves.
At LumaCleanCares, we are constantly inspired by stories of perseverance and innovation within the healthcare community. It’s often how we identify unmet gaps in patient care, and design innovative medical solutions.
This month, we're highlighting Kimi Wahl. A full-time Boeing employee and dedicated horse trainer at a local rescue in Junction City, Kansas, Kimi refused to let life with a feeding tube define her. Although her journey began with significant pain and setbacks, finding the right medical team—and the right tools—helped her regain her independence and return to the activities she loves.
Read her story below.
Kimi has faced health challenges for much of her life, receiving an exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) diagnosis two years ago. But last fall, her condition took a dramatic turn. She struggled to keep food down and lost more than 40 pounds in just six weeks. After undergoing a gastric emptying study, she was diagnosed with severe gastroparesis.
The rapid decline forced her to step away from both her full-time job at Boeing and her volunteer work training horses.
"I was miserable," she recalled.
After multiple treatments failed to improve her condition, Kimi connected with a surgeon through a Facebook support community. During their very first appointment, he recognized that she was dangerously malnourished. Within days, she received a feeding tube that would ultimately become an essential part of her recovery.
While the feeding tube helped restore her nutrition, adjusting to life with it wasn't easy.
“The first two months were extremely painful,” she said.
She started with a dangler tube, and suffered from bad granulation tissue and a blockage within the first two weeks.
“I have extremely sensitive skin, which has made finding products I can use very difficult. I'm allergic to adhesives, so I can't use any tapes—even those made for sensitive skin.”
After switching to a MIC-KEY® Button, Kimi started searching for solutions to get her life back on track.
Kimi’s initial issues with her tube took her away from her active lifestyle. That included stepping back from her volunteer work at a horse rescue.
Like many patients, Kimi turned to the online feeding tube community looking for advice and products that might help manage her persistent skin irritation and granulation tissue. That's when she discovered StomaEase™ Powder.
“It was a night-and-day difference within two weeks,” said Kimi. “I stopped having to get the granulation tissue burned off, and I was able to become more active again.”
Today, Kimi has developed a routine that works for her, allowing her to focus less on her feeding tube and more on living the life she loves.
In addition to working full time at Boeing, she's returned to training horses at Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement.
“Working with animals is my passion.” she said. “I’ve been around horses all my life. I’ve done trail riding and endurance races (going 25-100 miles in a time limit). I only ride and train bitless. I work hard to build a partnership with a horse so they do not need any harsh equipment.”
Kimi doesn’t view her feeding tube as a hindrance, but rather a positive addition to her life.
“It’s giving my body the ability to start doing things again,” she said. “I’ve just always looked at it more like, instead of holding me back, it's giving me the opportunity to keep going.”
After seeing success with StomaEase™ Powder and StomaDisc™, Kimi volunteered to test the newly developed StomaEase™ BarrierBalm.
Kimi was originally using a combination of Aquaphor Healing Ointment® and Desitin® as a barrier with StomaEase™ Powder. But even with that, she was still experiencing burns from the leakage.
With StomaEase BarrierBalm, Kimi saw immediate results.
“After the first 24 hours [of using StomaEase BarrierBalm] and no skin reaction, I actually cried from relief. I've tried so many things, and my skin would just not allow it.”
Even after hours of working outside in the heat, her stoma was still in great shape: “A full work week plus this weekend I was at the rescue training and riding. So it was sweat tested for sure, and I still only applied it every 24hrs. I was outside for 10 hours each on Saturday and Sunday working with some abused horses.”
She added: “I no longer have to treat granulation tissue. Even with increased activity—training and riding horses again—I'm not developing granulation tissue. Your products work!”
Kimi’s feeding tube journey did not have an easy start. But, she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing the things that make her happy.
“Understand that in the beginning, it is very hard and you're in pain. But, you will find your new normal and you will find your equilibrium,” she said.
“Lean on your support system,” she added. “It’s always been hard for me to ask for help, but it's surprising how many people want to help even if it's a simple ‘Hey, come help with the dishes.” It all makes a big difference knowing people want to be there for you!”
