Monday, December 2, 2013

Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week, December 1-7

Hello! I'm back, after an unexpected 6 month hiatus.

Where have I been? Busy with summer, road trips, family affairs, and taking some time to heal. But I'll get back to that.

In 2011, the U.S. Senate designated December 1-7 as Crohn's and Colitis Awareness week, and I would like to take this opportunity to 1) Help raise awareness and 2) return to my blog.

I'll share here what I shared last night with my friends on Facebook:

Today is the first day of Crohn's and Colitis Awareness week, which was first established by the Senate in 2011 to encourage people in the U.S. to join in the effort to cure these diseases.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2005. I've had one surgery, 4 hospitalizations, and several ER visits. I'm one of the lucky ones. I didn't "catch" it, nor did I do anything to cause it. "Eating healthy" won't fix me, nor is Crohn's limited to the digestive tract. Even when things are going well, I can suffer from pain, fatigue, and malnourishment, among other symptoms. Crohn's can present life-threatening, and even fatal, complications.

This photo was taken in 2011, when I was hospitalized and Chris brought the boys to visit. It was a bittersweet moment, but given the complications I suffered, I was glad to be alive.
If you have questions, I am happy to answer them, and am always thankful for people who inquire or provide support. Thanks for listening - Carpe Diem!


I hope this finds you well!