In December 2008, I started having abdominal pain. Two months later I saw a gastroenterologist for the first time. Two days after that visit, I was being put under general anesthesia to have an upper endoscopy performed – a procedure where a doctor basically takes a camera on the end of a string and treks through your upper digestive system. This was the first of what would come to be eleven more tests and one surgery over the next 15 months.
Luckily, my problem seems to be a combination of inflammation, IBS, and anxiety. But for 1.4 million people out there (10% children), the pain and struggle of “tummy trouble” is an overwhelming pain in the butt! IBD patients battle with pain that can range from negligible to debilitating, they struggle to find their individual “X” foods that flare up symptoms, not to mention the inconvenient (and sometimes embarrassing) “gotta go” moments. Living with this kind of pain changes your life – and can even change who you are.
While I didn’t quite reach my fundraising goal for this event, I came close with the help of my friend, Krystin Tate, and aunts Eva Norman and Peggy Butts. Their donations go to help support local patient programs, as well as important research projects. Locally, over $107,000 was raised for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America! Thank you so much to those of you that donated!
Here are are few pictures from the event, held at Warren G. Magnuson Park in Seattle:
Tyson and I at Take Steps.
Featured sponsors, Ken and Barbara Chaplin, with Top Fundraiser, Joey Peha (Crohn's patient since nine years-old!)
One of many views of Lake Washington from the trail.
My doctor's office had the best team name!
Porta-potty on the walk trail - just in case!
Weird Magnuson Park thing.
Trunk full of toilet paper.
