All About Information - Relevant to All at Some Point

Another Reminder About Why I Do What I Do

One of my recent Blog posts was all about why I was raising money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Not that I need any reminders, but today I received another profound reminder of why it is I am so passionate about raising awareness for Crohn's and Colitis, as well as any form of IBD.

I received a phone call today from Mary Jo, whose 33 year old daughter, Megan,  has been diagnosed with Crohn's since the age of 13. Megan has actually been sick since she was 3 years old and has probably had Crohn's since that time, but her official diagnosis was not until age 13.

Mary Jo called me today because she happened to see an article in the Around Canton Magazine about a fundraiser to support the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Within seconds of reading article, she grabbed her phone and called me to find out how she can get tickets to support the fundraiser. She told me her daughter had Crohn's for 20 years and they are always supporting any function that helps raise awareness.

I was instantly excited to know that another person was ready to purchase tickets to support this fundraiser, but I found myself even more interested in hearing about Megan and how her fight with Crohn's was doing.

Unfortunately, her fight against Crohn's has been a severe struggle for her. Megan's fight has resulted in her having to have multiple resections and ultimatlely forcing her to drop out of high school because she was simply too ill to attend. Fortunately, she did eventually get better and has been able to earn her GED.

I could hear the sadness in Mary Jo's voice when we spoke about Megan's condition and my heart goes out to her because I too have a loved one who has suffered from Crohn's for 20 years and I have seen first hand the damage this disease inflicts on a person ( both physically and emotionally).

It's amazing how a common cause can bring people together just over a quick phone call, because I feel like I have gained a new friend and that Megan and my loved one will soon be able to meet and be able to offer support to each other. Ironically, Mary Jo and Megan only live about 20 minutes from my home. We already have plans to get a dinner scheduled early next week.

Thanks to Mary Jo for calling me today and thanks for sharing Megan's story with me.

And, THANKS for reminding me once again why I am so passionate about raising awareness for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. This is truly a cause I am passionate about and because it is not a "one size fits all" disease, it affects all walks of life, young and old.

I am proud to be a advocate for raising awareness about this cause and will continue to do so until better treatments are found. Due to lack of fundraising, most IBD patients are still receiving medications that were introduced 20 years ago. We simply must have more advancements towards treating this disease, so I plan to consistently "Do What I Do" to help raise awareness and Own my commitment to this cause!

What is your cause that you are passionate about?

Do you own that passion and stay committed to it?

Here are a few IBD fast facts:

• Roughly 1.4 million adults and children have IBD - that's more than teh number who have multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, or leukemia.
• The number of children under the age of 18 diagnosed with IBD has doubled over the past decade.
• Fifty percent of people diagnosed with IBD have no family history of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• On average, it takes 3.2 years for IBD patients to receive the correct diagnosis, and most people initially receive at lesat two misdiagnosis.
• People with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than the general population. When caught early, colorectal cancer is highly treatable, so regular screening for people with IBD are crucial.

If you've read this blog, thanks for taking the time. Feel free to make comments and feel free to share what it is your passion is.

And, if you'd like to learn more about the fundraiser that prompted Mary Jo's call, go to www.cherokeewcr.org/wintriptoitaly

Make it a GREAT Day!

Kathy Delbridge