People like us are thriving in spite of Crohns
Test-Defy your own Indomitable Spirit.
In the summer of ‘22, my triplet brother was busy preparing for ninth grade, buying khakis and learning to tie a tie. But I was in the hospital. Last summer I was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease and spent a total of twenty days in Jersey Shore Medical Center. I had a perforated ileum, a stricture, severe inflammation, and anemia. The doctors told me I have to have 4-hour monthly intravenous infusions of Remicade for the rest of my life.
But through all the struggles of last summer, I kept my eyes on the prize: walking through the doors of my new high school in September with my brother, standing up straight for the first time in months. Against all odds, that is what I did, and I have continued to meet every challenge I have encountered. Foremost was my academic challenge. I started in standard level classes at CBA, but I now have a schedule of all honors and AP courses for junior year, having achieved the minimum 92 in my classes required for promotion. Absences are a fact of life even when your inflammation numbers look good: this summer I took a pre-calc course and even though I had to miss many classes, I made good use of videos from the web to learn the material and qualify for AP Calc.
My next challenge has been running. In my hospital bed, I dreamed of testing my limits and seeing just how fast I could be on a smooth, banked track with strength in my muscles and pain-free. I started Cross Country, however realizing it wasn’t for me I had decided to join the sprinting team. I was rebuilding myself and training side-by-side with boys who had been preparing for months. Once Indoor season started, I was finally able to run my first meet. Although my first few times weren’t pretty, I kept going, getting a personal best at almost every meet. I cut no corners. I trust the program. I demand a push-to-the-limit workout of myself everyday I am able. My coach continues to predict competitive times for me and often gives me respect for my hard work.
Based on my challenges from Crohns, I would give this advice to other student athletes with Crohns disease: embrace your challenges. The harder you work, the more life will reward you with respect, knowledge, and support. Know that your diagnosis isn’t about what you have to give up and what you have lost. You will acclimate. You will find work-arounds, and you will be able to do even more than you could before you heard about Crohns. And remember progress isn’t linear. Sometimes it’s like running the shuttle run on the deck of a ship: you may be going back as much as you are going forward, but the ship itself is still heading to your destination. Through struggle you know the nature of yourself.
People like us are thriving in spite of Crohns. Where the rest of the field crumbles before obstacles, we welcome tests so that we can defy them. Hopefully this collection of resources and testimonials will inspire you to succeed and to one day test-defy to your own indomitable spirit.