This is a serious illness. My father-in-law suffered with colitis for many years (longer than I've known my wife). Two years ago the colitis lead to a diagnosis of colon cancer. They caught it early enough that he is now in remission, but he also no longer has a colon.
Last year my wife was introduced to the Gutsy Walk and was able to raise over $2000 (with the help of a bake sale at work), she did the 5-km walk for her dad in over 30 degree weather last year.
This year while on mat leave she was able to raise over $1000 again, and this time the whole family did the walk including our 4-year old son. We took turns pushing our 2-month old in the storller. It was quite the turn out.
We will probably attempt to do the walk every year. It is genetic. It is possible my wife or either of my sons can be diagnosed with this. Fortunatley that has yet to happen.
My father-in-law doesn't like tot alk about it much either because it is a very sensative issue. Kudos to Shayne Corson for going public with this.
There is no proof that it is in fact genetic. That is just an assumption from medical professionals. However my aunt has crohns and I was the lucky one in the family to get ulcerative colitis. Thank you for the support you and your family give to find a cure to this "not so glamourous" disease. In fact there is one cure and it is the removal of the colon, I'd rather the occasional flare ups at this point in my life. I'm hopeful in the next 20 or so years they will make strides and eradicate this awful condition! Fun fact to live with this disease costs anywhere from $2-$8 a day. Pills are freaking expensive as hell! If I didn't live in the first world I'd have died by now!
TO ALL PARENTS It is very very important that you are open with your children and that they know they can tell you ANYTHING. Not just when they are younger but after puberty as well! I wish I wasn't so embarrassed when I was 14 or 15! Even mention to them that if there is ever blood in the toilet that they tell you right away and that there is no need to be embarrassed as you are their parent!
The Following story is maybe a little gross and disturbing- has a hockey spin to it kind of. If you want to know how I was diagnosed then read on. It really doesn't bother me to talk about it anymore, I mean it's not first date material but whatever. It's a little long, maybe boring but I will try to make it interesting.
Oh it wouldn't be a hockey forum without a hockey story, would it?! I first noticed there was something wrong when I was 14 or 15, I had burger king one night and it went right through me. There is was bloody diarrhea in the toilet. I swear I thought it was from the whopper and strawberry milk shake! Occurrences like this happened for the next 2-3 years with me and only me knowing about it!
I became very pale and was tired all the time. It was hard to wake up for school or even pay attention in school (a reason why I later dropped out). I was always skinny so that wasn't out of the norm but someone should have noticed how pale and tired I was! My parents were not neglectful, they are loving and supporting but for whatever reason I was too embarrassed to tell them what was going on.
Fast forward to when I was 16 or 17. I was never very good at hockey but I loved the game. I was playing in my house league and during the second period, I'm not even sure of the score, I went out on the ice for my shift and after about 5 seconds felt like I needed to collapse to the ice. I didn't. I played for another 20 or so seconds got to the red line dumped the puck in and got off the ice. I looked to the stands and saw my father (who attended every game) screaming. He thought the coach called me off early not realizing I was too weak to finish my shift. I am actually still proud that I was able to get to the bench and not stop the others from having fun and playing the game. Or getting off the ice in a stretcher. I got on the bench and went towards the dressing room where a coach had his hand on my back. I kneeled down if obvious discomfort and my dad was right there wondering what was going on. I told him I wanted to go to the doctors. I got my gear off and we went to the doctors.
I still didn't tell anyone about the blood or diarrhea. My family Doctor recommended a specialist (gastroenterologist), we made the appointment and my mom took me to see him at the hospital. He asked me a few questions including the one I dreaded the most "is there blood in your poo". I put my head down, ashamed, and said yes. My mom, not mad but confused asked me why I didn't tell her before. I don't remember what I said. The Doctor recommended me to another Doctor who performed an endoscopy and diagnosed me with ulcerative colitis. He prescribed a steroid that I was to take for a month or two before I could start a less harsh medication, the expensive one that I am still currently on. The steroid had every 17 year olds favourite side effect.... back and chest acne! As if the stigma associated with the disease wasn't enough. The acne makes you lose confidence and has so many adverse effects people don't realize. I guess you can say I am shallow because I wouldn't be with a girl if she had back or chest acne, so why would the girls I liked be with me?
I need regular check ups to make sure I'm not developing cancer as I am at a high risk. I'm now 25 and have battled through this awful condition for 1/3 of my life. I look back and see how silly it was for me to hide this from my parents or not to see a doctor myself. But when you're that young and not told what to do in certain situations the shame and embarrassment might be too much to handle. Imagine not telling your daughter about her period when shes around 10 or 11. Just letting her find out by herself, so when she is 12 or 13 there is blood in the toilet. The fear, shame and embarrassment would be a lot to handle. She might even try to hide it for a little while!
Well that is my story. I've never actually wrote it out before, I've told it to people because it really is not that embarrassing for me any more. I can't control it.
Gives me an idea for a support website. Get people to write their stories ???? profit. HMMM
