The Race

So, after months of training, raising money and talking about Crohns and Colitis with everyone I know, it was time to get on the plane and head to California. I was calmed when my mom arrived safely the night before we left and as I lay in bed that night I vowed that I was going to have fun...no stressing about anything, it would be what it would be.

In the morning, Jackie's friend Brennan came over to ride with us to the airport. I know it made her happy and put a spring in her step. Dylan was pretty fired up to get on a plane and get out of town! He and I had a ball acting like complete juveniles in the airport at Denver. I have to tell you, it was really fun to let loose and not worry about anything..we tried to stay out of people's way and be respectful of property..and I think we were though Gramma and Jackie eventually had to confiscate our "ball". I loved laughing with him...letting loose.

When we got to San Fran everything seemed to be working beautifully. We got on the bus to Rhonert Part and our hotel without any trouble. We met a couple other gals who were with CCFA and that made it SO real! They were pretty excited too! The bus ended up getting caught in traffic and it took us 3 1/2 hours to finish a 45 mile or so trip...ugh. But nonetheless, the enthusiasm wasn't dampened much! We hit the pool quickly and then went to the "packet-pick up" and team meeting. THis was my first chance to meet the rest of the National Team. They were from all over the country and basically loners like me...in other words they were in an area where they were the only participant in this race so we trained via telephone and online. I knew right away that I was in good company. The CCFA staff was exceptional. It was really fun to meet Carly and Melissa who had been our main contacts, in person. They were just as energetic and positive as I thought they would be and I could tell Carly by her outgoing, friendly voice before I actually ever met her.

Getting my jersey and my little packet of race stuff was very exciting for me and once again made the whole thing so real. Even with all the training and hours of work raising money, it all kind of seemed like a dream. Having my race number in my hand, with my name on it, made it pretty hard to deny that I was really going to be running a half marathon whether I liked it or not! THe only thing that slightly dampened my glow was that my official certificate said that I had made at least $38XX...rather than my goal amount of $5,000. Being the goal hound I am, that didn't set well with me, but I knew in my heart that when it was said and done...I'd be there. I met another lady whose daughter was only 18 months when diagnosed with Colitis. The poor little thing lost most of her colon before her second birthday. This woman had raised nearly $20,000 on her own!!!! All while taking care of a 3 year old who had suffered way more than it is fair for any child to have to suffer. I was humbled and excited to be part of such a team.

The next day we went into Sonoma and had a great time visiting some shops and walking around the beautiful area. WE had breakfast at a great "local" spot that our cab driver recommended and saw lots of Charles Shultz's characters in statue form everywhere. That was pretty fun. We had lunch at a nice little out-door Mexican place but I didn't have much appetite at this point. We went back to the hotel and mom and the kids went for a swim while I took some time to put my race stuff together and get all organized for the morning...our bus would leave the hotel at 5:00 am to take us to the race start.

That evening there was a Pasta Party at a beautiful vineyard in the Russian River Valley. It was gorgeous. When we got off the bus we were met by a huge welcoming line of CCFA volunteers whistling and cheering and giving high fives and encourgament. It was pretty incredible and loud and crazy! Talk about rolling out the red carpet! Dinner was great and the company was even better. Tracy, Fred, Joy and Joe became lifetime friends that evening. Fred, from New York City, had Crohns and was about to begin Remicade after having some trouble. Tracy has had Colitis for years and like myself has a couple of kids and a family and her story was so similar. Joe had Colitis for a number of years and had mostly done well though he had struggled with some injuries during training and Joy was running and had raised tons of money in support of Joe and others with IBD. They were all great and we heard some inspiring stories throughout the program. THe most exciting news came when we learned that the 506 Team Challenge participants together had raised more than $2 million. It is just stunning to think what can be done with that kind of money. Kids who suffer from IBD would be attending a summer camp, because of us! New treatments would be tested and put forward sooner, because of us! A CURE is more possible now because of US!! AND because of all of you who helped all of us. It was pretty amazing to think about all the ramifications.

I was able to eat better than I thought...believe it or not I had actually practiced eating pasta before my long training runs to be sure I could stomach it and that helped alot because I told myself - "self, I know you don't feel hungry and it is possible you may throw up, but you should eat this and get the energy you need for tomorrow, it will help you ROCK THE RACE. You KNOW you can handle it" I actually listened! I was even more excited that I was able to sleep pretty well. I really thought I'd lay awake the entire night, but I got at least four hours of sleep and woke a little before the alarm feeling pretty awake and ready to go. Mom came down to the lobby with me and got some photos and gave me a farewell and off I went! I had a banana and some oatmeal to go bars and a luna supplement that, once again, I had practiced eating so I felt comfortable it would work. ON the bus I visited with Tracy about life and family and felt pretty at ease. The one thing that went wrong was that my head band broke. I ended up putting in a second pony tail which did the trick. I'm actually a little glad it happened because it was like - problem, solution.... I can do this!

When we got to the start at Cuvasion, there was a sea of people - more than 2500 runners! BUt it was most exciting and motivating to see the massive number of CCFA runners in their bright orange singlets. There were tall people, short people, skinny people, heavy people, young people and older people....all there for the same reason. I felt a part of something really big. Everyone was smiling and saying encouraging words. I remembered the best advice I've ever been given about getting through a race - THANK EVERY volunteer along the way and encourage every person who passes you or who you pass (within reason of course, this could be exhausting wiht 2500 people in the race!). I also decided right then in there in the beauty of a sea of vineyards that I was going to keep my head up and enjoy the scenery. I took my phone out of the bag that would be carried to the finish line for me and put it in my race belt...who knew I may need to stop and take a picture along the way! I was here..I'd done the training and I was going to enjoy it. I couldn't help but smile.

And then I couldn't help but need to pee! Again! SO off to the porta potty line I went. I got in line with 45 minutes to spare before the start of the race at 7:00. At 7:00, I was IN the porta potty! YES IN THE POTTY!!! I couldn't believe it! Talk about taking the jitters out of getting a GOOD start, I was just hoping to get TO the start!! Luckily the race hadn't started yet when I made my way out of the potty and toward the crowd. I was feeling a little out of sorts when I spotted Joe, Joy and Fred! What a relief! I caught up to them and before I knew it, we were off. we sputtered along in the crowd and it seemed like forever before I got to the START line..but I knew my official time wouldn't start until my chip crossed the pads so I didn't worry too much.

Shortly after the start was "the BIG hill" the one they warned us about. I had trained on hills and truthfully, it wasn't that daunting to me - I wanted to attack it. There was this little welling up of emotion in me and for a second I thought I might cry...and then the adrenaline kicked in I said to myself, leave it all out on the course - don't wish you would have done more. I got in my zone and took off. There was admittedly a little bit of me that thought maybe I was shooting myself in the foot...but mostly I was excited to devour the hill. WHen I hit the 1 mile marker I was at 10:30 on my watch...which was under my goal time of 11 minute miles, but slower than I wanted in my "dream" scenario. I acknowledged and accepted that it had to have more to do with the crowd I was weaving around than my conditioning...that first mile was pretty packed and I had started way at the back. I decided to get right to the edge of the pack and see what I could do.

At the second mile mark there was a water station and I had decided ahead of time that I was going to walk through each station (they were every other mile) and actually drink the little cup of gatorade they give you. At four miles and eight miles I was going to have a GU. I wasn't going to lollygag about by any means, but in my training I learned that having a couple sips and swallowing them carefully upset my stomach way less than trying to swallow while I was running - beside I spilled most of the cup on myself when I ran vs actually getting some fluid when I walked. Anyway, I grabbed the dixie cup, thanked all the volunteers and then started running again. When I looked at my watch I was at 19: 20...I had smoked that mile! BUt I was not winded and did not feel out of whack at all at this pace.

When I hit the four mile mark, I had the GU and a good drink and checked my watch again. I was at 38:40...still under a 10 minute pace...Cool! I decided to get out my phone and take some pictures while I ran...they didn't really turn out, but I'm glad I have them. You can see they're action photos and it helped to divert my attention from running. In training, I always seemed to bog down a little in the fourth and fifth mile. THis turned out to be good strategy!

At the half way point there was supposed to be a main road where we might get stopped while they let traffic through. When I thought I must be at about half way, there was only a line of people on both sides of a paved (but didn't seem main) road cheering wildly so I thought I must not be there yet. I was concerned that I had fallen off my pace and decided to pick it up a bit. Before I knew it I was at the 7 mile mark...so the people had indeed marked the halfway, I was relieved! At 7 miles I was still under a 10 minute pace...I couldn't believe it!

At 8 miles I had my last gu and was feeling pretty good. It was starting to get warmer and the sky was really clearing. There was far less of a crowd and it was easy to settle into a groove. At 10 miles I was stunned that I was still under a 10 minutes pace. I kept thinking that maybe I should slow down a little so I didn't die at the end. My next mile was my slowest of the race...but I was still under 10 minute miles and I only had 2 miles to go. I thought, heck with this, I'm going to go however fast I feel like going! I started doing math in my head. I was thinking if I did 15 minute miles I would still beat my goal and then all the sudden, I was at 12 miles! THen I started thinking, oh crap! I told my mom and my kids that they didn't need to be at the finish line until at least 2:15 cause I wouldn't be there until AT LEAST then! I got out my phone again and called Jackie (who as a teenager, always has her phone!) but she didn't answer. I was like, hey guys, I'm kicking ass!!! Better get to the finish line cause I'm going to be there in less than ten minutes! I hung up the phone and thought, oh my dear and loving God! I am going to be there in less than 1o minutes! I had to swallow the urge to cry again...tears of joy and gratitude for the incredible blessings which I had recieved.... As I got into town and could see the park ahead of me I knew that I was going to finish, and finish strong. I could feel someone behind me and said, NO WAY, I sprinted as much as I could and let myself hear the people in the crowd...who I didn't know yelling, GO JODIE, YOU ARE ALMOST THERE! KEEP IT UP! Then I hear the announcer say, and from MONTANA, CCFA runner JODIE DeLAY crosses the finish line. I could see my mom and my kids smiling at me and the pride in my mom's eyes was exploding....my kids....I just completely fell apart. The tears of joy and triumph and victory started falling and I couldn't stop them at all. It was just a feeling beyond words. I think this is long enough for now. THanks for reading...even after waiting all this time to put it down. I feel like I'm right there again...and its a feeling I'm glad to relive. Thank you all so much for everything you have done for me and for the CCFA and for my family. I am forever indebted.
jd

Introspection..why did I do this in the first place? Long and reflective so skip if you wish!

Now its time to get a little introspective...when I think back to January when I first heard about CCFA's Team Challenge, it seems like forever ago. I remember pondering whether I should take on such a big project. It had been a really, really tough year for my family (2007).

You've heard a lot about how very, very sick Kody was and how extraordinarily difficult it was for him and for his girls. Their lives were very much uprooted and it was tough going for all of us just trying to be there for them, and still function in our own worlds. Kayla and Tonii were without their dad for long periods and still went about doing their best in school and sports and really rocking the house at not just functioning, but thriving. They had a couple of years when they only saw their dad in pain and hurting and I know it was really, really hard...but they were champions. By January, time was just dragging and I so badly wanted to do something to help but I just didn't know what... Believe me, I'm so proud of how ALL of them dealt, all along - even then, ...but honestly my heart was just aching for all three of them.

Also during the prior year, my sister Suzanne's son was diagnosed with diabetes...at age 3. It was such a scary time and has been incredibly difficult for them to adjust to a life of needles and constant checks 24/7. Suzanne has been brave and a model of strength for Braden...ensuring that his "lifestyle" hasn't changed and he hasn't become a "victim". Braden's courage has been truly inspiring. Diabetes hasn't slowed him down a bit. He gives himself shots and just keeps going 100 miles per hour. Suzanne has learned everything imaginable about how to combat the big D and been on duty full time making sure that Braden gets exactly the treatment he needs. It has been remarkable to see her step up to this challenge. They, and little miss Taylor, who has done a lot of growing up way too quickly, are very motivating, too.

My sister Julianne had a health scare with her son, Brody, also...and though things appear to be okay, he'll need his liver checked regularly to be sure that doesn't change. When news came at a checkup that there could be a problem, she stepped up to the plate, got the tests and did what needed to be done. All the while she mangaged to absolutely kick butt in college - and eventually earned a 4.0 in her last semester of course work to finish her teaching degree with highest honors. Amazing.

My parents during this time dealt with all of us going through tough times, and their own things as well. My mom suffers from immune related issues and my dad has had terrible back trouble - but they just rose to the top, never faultering and ALWAYS being ready to jump to be sure that us kids had what we needed. Their strength was very much a factor in my thinking maybe I could do something that would help us all focus on something positive, in the face of so much adversity.

My own little family - my kids and Scott - consistently was at the top of my priority list..so important to me...something I wanted desperately to protect and nurture. But even as I contemplated taking on Team Challenge, it was coming apart. I'll reflect on this more in a different, more private place...just can't do it here.

In January when I started thinking about this project, it was not good, and to make matters worse, a problem that Dylan had first experienced with his digestive system a year before started to rear its ugly head again, too.

All this led to my decision to take a leap...I needed to be able to DO something to help my brother and my son and to have a positive goal in my near future to keep me moving ahead and stop me from stalling out. I wanted so much to have something that I believed in and a goal that I could control. All the illness and disease in my life had left me feeling VERY out of control. And so very helpless to be able to make my family smile...have happiness and joy amongst everything else.

When I decided to take the challenge, it was with a lot of hope and expectation...almost desperation. I NEVER could have dreamed it would be such an amazing and truly life-changing journey.

Facebook | Jodie DeLay

Facebook Jodie DeLay

Hopefully, you will all be able to open the facebook album that is posted above. I'm not really a techno person so I'm not sure how that works, but I did manage to put a little picture journal there and I'd love for you to be able to view it. If you have trouble, will you please email me at jodiedelay@hotmail.com so I know? thanks!

I'm not sure where to begin so I'll just get some business out of the way. My drawing!!! I put everyone who was kind enough to make a cash donation into the drawing and here are the big winners! (I'll get you the prizes in the next week or so!)

Beautiful handmade quilt - Don and Judy Mathre
Cool sculpture of a wildcat - Doug and Lori Steele
$25.00 gift certificate for Stampin Up products from Nicole Flournoy - Michele Farmer(http://www.nicole.stampinup.net/)
Front-end alignment - Daryl Monroe-Bilotti
Bottle of wine from NAPA, California! - Pat Morrow

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, for your support. I could not have done any of it without you and with everything in me I believe we are a giant step closer to a cure.

Okay, so first things first...Kody. He is doing really well! I'm so glad to report that he is making good strides. He was able to start Remicade a few weeks ago and will have his 3rd infusion in a couple weeks before getting on an 8 week rotation similar to what I do. It's probably too soon to tell if its working as well for him as it does for me...but there is reason to be optimistic that his great medical team has begun to get the puzzle put together. He is gaining weight and strength and feeling a little better each day. I haven't been able to see him in person since the race...which bums me out...but I'm really encouraged by how much stronger his voice is sounding on the phone and how much more positive things seem to be going.

Yeehaw! The next series of posts will be my wrap up with the first one actually be about why I did this in the first place. I needed to write it because for me it is perspective and I want to always remember WHY I did it and how I got from there to here. However, it is something that is probably less interesting if you don't know me very well so please feel free to skip the Introspection post and go right to the race update if you like!

jd

Long update coming soon!

Hi all!
I'm still recovering from an amazing weekend and not quite ready to pen my thoughts here just yet. I wanted to thank you all again for everything and to share the Bozeman Chronicle story that was published on Saturday before my race. Tim Dumas did a great job capturing the essence of "my story" and I'm truly grateful. IBD isn't really talked about much, but so many people have a story about it to share...and I feel like this is a beginning point for opening that dialogue. Thank you, Tim!

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2008/07/19/sports/000delay.txt

If you've seen my fundraising page, you know that officially, we met our goal - we surpassed $5,000 AND I beat my goal time significantly. I hoped for 2hours 20 minutes, secretly thought MAYBE I could get 2 hours and 15 and actually finished in 2 hours 9 minutes and 12 seconds. The people, the course, the weather....everything was fantastic. I'm just completely thrilled with everything and couldn't have hoped for it to be better.

I did have the best support crew...THANK YOU MOM, JACKIE and DYLAN for riding shot gun...and to my DAD, KODY, JULIANNE, SUZANNE and definitely SCOTT and MONTY - Thanks for carrying me through...I wish you could have been there too, but I thought about you a lot along the trail! To everyone who sent me notes, said a prayer and lifted me up - believe me - you mattered. Part of me thinks that I just floated through the race...my feet barely touched the ground.

Thanks, so very, very much. And remember, anytime is a good time to send a few dollars to CCFA! http://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1

More later,
Jodie

Overwhelming...

No, not the distance (though 13.1 miles is way more than I thought possible five months ago!) and not the fundraising (which I NEVER thought I could be effective with, but here we are in excess of the minimum requirement and nipping at the heels of my goal)....

The SUPPORT, the words of ENCOURAGEMENT, the PRAYERS...its truly overwhelming to me! Wow, THANKS so much to every single one of you for lifting me AND my family up. We are all so fortunate to have had this inundation of kindness and blessings. For the rest of my life, I will relish in this experience, this opportunity to see inside the hearts of people and KNOW ABSOLUTELY that this is a wonderful world. Words cannot express how grateful and truly overwhelmed I am by all of you.

THANKS to KBZK in Beautiful Bozeman Montana for running a story on my race and the need for awareness and funds for IBD. Here is a link to their story: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8691172
I really appreciate that the station listed this blog link on their page, also. This is so key in raising awareness and I'm very, very pleased with the compassion and the coverage!

Click here to donate...every penny counts!!! http://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1

And keep those prayers coming! I'm going to be so light from being lifted up by all of you that on Sunday, my feet aren't even going to touch the ground!

May God bless you all,
jd

Deadline extended!

Hi all, I'm going to go ahead and extend the deadline to be entered in the drawing for the prizes listed below until RACE DAY, July 20th. The local media has been so good about helping me with raising awareness, that I really don't care about being recogized for hitting my goal of $5,000 - by the 16th; but I STILL hope to reach it and surpass it by the race!!!

I'm much more committed to giving anyone who comes here as a result of the coverage a chance to be a part of my Team Challenge. If you want to be involved, here is what you can do:

1) Click this link http://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1 and donate online
2) Send a check made payable to CCFA to: Jodie DeLay, 706 Home Run Drive, Belgrade MT 59714
3) Pass this link on to a friend or family member
4) Make an appointment with your doctor! If you've been having a slow decline in your health with general symptoms such as diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores, low grade fever, rectal bleeding, joint soreness for an extended period - get it checked!!! While sometimes Crohns and Colitis will hit with a vengeance, often it is a slow period where things just kind of get worse and before long its hard to remember what it really felt like to feel GREAT! If you're in this position, please get checked.
5) If you're in a bad episode of IBD and need a shoulder or a good set of ears, call me or send me an email 406.209.0277 or jodiedelay@hotmail.com . If someone close to you is suffering and you just want to vent, I'm here for you, too! We will survive and THRIVE!!!
6) Say a prayer for me, my brother, my son and everyone else with bowel disease or digestive issues and then send up another prayer for their families and friends and for everyone who has been so generous and gracious and supportive of my participation in Team Challenge.
7) Wish me luck on completing this half marathon on Sunday with a SMILE on my face and great memories of a great day. I really want to finish in under 2 hours and 20 minutes, but I'm a little afraid that I might push too hard and not enjoy the race...so pray for my patience and ability to just let loose and have fun! (I appreciate this tremendously!!!)

If you can do any or all of these things, you will officially be a member of my own Team Challenge and the IBD Support Crew of Montana...I just made that up but it is catchy!

I'll announce the drawing winners on July 23rd after I return from NAPA!!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!
(Watch Z7 at 5:30 to see my moment of fame!)

jd

Confidence

I have spent the last couple of days trying to calmly visualize myself running through the beautiful vineyards of northern California. I'm able to get into this place that feels pretty serene and then BAM I realize that it is nearly time for this goal of many months to come to be!

I've done the training. I've been blessed to be able to tell my story to a lot of people and to hear the stories of a lot of people. Much of the anxiety that I've felt at trying to raise money has faded, because I'm so completely confident that this is an incredible worthy cause. People whose lives have been affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease, deserve a voice and this is one small way to help raise awareness, to talk about the symptoms of these diseases, to encourage people to see a doctor if they are having trouble, to let people know they aren't alone and that many, many good people are fighting WITH them to find better treatments and ultimately a CURE for IBD.

I would still like to be able to add Montana to the 5K club...and that means that we have a little more fundraising to do. We are currently sitting at about $4100 (by the time we count checks that I've sent that haven't been added to the tally on my page yet). We have basically 24 hours to come up with another $900. Will you help?

Please log onto my fundraising site: https://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1
and donate whatever you can. I am offering a raffle ticket for every $5.00 donated through tomorrow, July 16th. The prizes are listed on the previous post.

But don't stop there, please send this page to your friends and family... let's put us on the map!! IBD must be stopped and I'm very, very sure that together we can get us a big step closer to that finish line.

Thank you all so very much. My shout out today has to go to my colleagues at Montana State University... they have been absolutely phenomenal. I've been touched to the core of my being by the generosity of coworkers that I barely know. They've changed my life already. THANK YOU!!

Before I close, I think today is a good a time as any for a challenge. I am one of the biggest Bobcat fans in the world...i do truly bleed blue and gold...but I'm from a mixed family...my brother Kody - yes the one who is my inspiration and who I would do just about anything for - is a diehard Grizzly fan. I'm pretty sure that other than some Levi's and possibly underwear, he doesn't own any clothing that isn't licensed Griz wear. I love him very, very much despite this one flaw. TODAY, I challenge all my good Griz friends to step up to the plate and donate to CCFA on behalf of Team Challenge. Sadly, all of us are equally likely to be affected by these diseases and I'm just really sure that by joining together in this fight, we'll all win.

Thanks, have a great day and GO TEAM CHALLENGE!!
https://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1

Jodie

Bozeman Chronicle

(This is kind of part 2 of the post below!!)

Now, I also have to say thanks to Dana Klopp who hooked me up with the Chronicle for an interview. It's not that I wanted fame or anything...it's actually a little difficult to go out on the line about something that is so personal, but this is WAY bigger than me....AWARENESS is a huge part of this journey and I'm able to tell my story to a much bigger audience because of her. It was scary to do the interview, but I honestly feel that it is God's will for me to talk about this and to be as much an advocate for others who are suffering as I can be. I don't know what tomorrow holds for me in terms of my Crohn's disease, but I know I have today...and I'm so grateful. If there is someone out there recently diagnosed, who gains some strength from my story, it is WORTH it! If you are that someone, PLEASE call me. 406.209.0277, mailto:jodiedelay@hotmail.com) I will listen ANYTIME. I'll be there for you. The bigger our team of IBD fighters, the better. If you don't have IBD, but have a loved one who does, I'm here for you, too. Let's stick together and one day at a time, one dollar at a time, make lives better.

Being diagnosed with IBD is scary and the challenges can be really significant, but there are a lot of good times too... sometimes it takes awhile to get in remission, some people only have one or two major phases, others have a really long, hard road....but with love and friendship, guidance from a good medical team, discipline and some guts (ha ha, i intended that pun).... life with IBD can be very fulfilling. I know!!!

We have achieved the minimum fundraising goal for this race. It was a challenge for sure, but WOW people came out of the woodwork to help. THANK YOU a million times over....I am forever indebted.

Let me explain a little how this works. In order for the CCFA to be sure that they make a MINIMUM of 83% of their revenue go directly toward finding a cure and improving the lives of people with IBD, they determine a minimum amount that participants have to raise in order for the expenses of the race to account for no more than 17%. If everyone participating in this Team Challenge event raises the minimum, then 83% at least is used for this purpose. If I hadn't raised this minimum, I would be obligated to cover the difference, I had to guarantee at least that much. (This is why the CCFA was one of only 4 organizations out of more than 60 that received an A report card!!)

Now, here is where the fun comes in! Since we've made the minimum, nearly ALL of what we bring in from here on out will go to IBD research and support! How cool is that! We are reducing the overhead percentage with every single dime.

My original goal was $5,000... and I think we can do it..I think we can beat it! What do you think!The prizes for the drawing (1 ticket for every $5.00 donated) to be held on July 17th (basedon donations made by the 16th), so far are:

A beautiful handmade quilt
A cool sculpture of a wildcat
A $25.00 gift certificate for Stampin Up products from Nicole Flournoy (http://www.nicole.stampinup.net/)
A front-end alignment
A bottle of wine from NAPA, California!

Let me know if you are interested in donating another prize!

Finally, look for the feature in the Chronicle in the next week. I want to thank Tim Dumas for his time and just remind you all to be aware of some of the symptoms of IBD. Check out http://www.ccfa.org/ if you have extended fatigue, cold sores in your mouth, pain when eating...even arthritis type pain, etc. Don't WAIT to get digestive issues looked at... sure it may be nothing, and that's great - it cost you a doctor visit, but you benefited from peace of mind. On the other hand, NOT getting help promptly can lead to long term scarring and permanent damage - why risk that! IBD can be very managable for people, but it takes some discipline and being smart, rather than tough!!!

Have a beautiful weekend and if you can, visit my site and make a donation!!
https://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1

jd

THANK YOU's - long, but important!

People are really and truly amazing. What a gift it has been to see people shine like I have as they've helped me achieve this goal. I have to mention a couple...

My kids - Jackie and Dylan. They just plain rock the house. They support me every day - when i'm happy, when i'm sad, when i'm sore, when i feel like running and when I don't. They make life worthwhile and I'm SO proud of them and so happy that they will get to join me at the finish line.

My mom. I realized that I missed the opportunity on Mother's Day to brag about her. She is truly amazing. She is glue. She quietly goes about keeping our family functioning - holding it together. She does what needs to be done. She has been such a rock to all of us kids...everything that has happened in our lives she has been there to wipe the tears and share the joy. She has some health things of her own, yet she carries her burdens quietly without a complaint, ever. She gives and gives and gives and I am so incredibly lucky to have her in my life and to have had her as a mentor and a friend. SHE will be at the finish line too, and I'll probably be bawling with emotion and joy as she gives me that hug, the one that only mom's can give.

I've talked about my brother before. He's my inspiration. When I think about how long he was sick before he was diagnosed, and how much he suffered even as a kid...it breaks my heart. He is such a fine, strong, wonderful man and I pray that he can find the peace that i have with this disease. I am infinitely proud of him. His daily journey is so hard...especially now when the surgery is past enough that people start wondering why he isn't back to normal. It's not that easy, I know. It's SO hard... Kody, hang in there...literally one step at a time and before you know it, you'll be looking at the finish line of a half marathon. YOU. You will beat this thing!!! And it's because of you, that I am very confident that even if Dylan DOES have Crohn's, he won't have to be as sick, because we've learned so much from your experience. He won't have 25 years of scarring to contend with, and he'll learn a lot more about taking care of himself early than he would have otherwise. It isn't fair, but if you need something to hang on too, hang on to that... because of you, Dylan is getting help really, really early. He is learning how to be healthy, learning things that are good for everyone, but especially someone with a genetic make-up that is disposed to IBD. With everything in me, I believe that you have saved him from a lot of emotional and physical pain. I'm just so, so sorry for all that you have gone through.

My sisters...i hate to lump them together because they are distinctly different people, with unique and special gifts, but this post is already getting really long! Suzanne and Julianne have BOTH been there for me through the darkest times and the best of times. I wish they could be at the finish line, too...but there will be more opportunities, I'm not stopping here!!

I already talked about my dad on father's day, but it bears repeating that he is THE best dad in the world!!! His birthday is Saturday, July 12th and I hope it is a great day. He really knows the right things to say to me...to support me and push me at the same time.

I won't go into every single other person, but there are many, and some day I WILL go into all of them, just so that I'm sure to never forget.

I want to just thank one more person right now and that is Brennan Schram. He's my daughter's friend, and my friend. One day he made signs to post along the route I run just so I know how far I've been and far I have to go. He did this on his own and it mattered so much. He's ridden his bike with me and Jackie while I run. He always has a kind word of encouragement and yesterday for my birthday, he donated some of his OWN money to my cause. He's a pretty special kid and deserves recognition. THANK YOU, Brennan.

Getting Oh, SO CLOSE!

The journey is nearly complete and I can clearly see the finish line. I have learned so much over the last 15 weeks or so. Things about myself and my family and friends and coworkers....about the world we live in. When I was in college I remember writing a paper about whether I thought people were inherently good or bad. I said then that I thought they were good, and now I know its true. People are good - people are great.

Sunday was the last "long" run of our training program and I made it 13.4 miles...the distance plus. I did it! It is such an amazing feeling to know that I am truly ready for this race. I wouldn't have thought it was possible even just a few months ago, but I'm going to run a half marathon through beautiful vineyards with 100's of other people who have raised thousands and thousands of dollars for a cause that is so extremely important to me. At this point all the Team Challenge folks around the country have raised nearly $1.5 MILLION! This is enough to make a difference, a real difference!!!

I still need your help to hit my financial goal. I've sent many, many letters and you all have helped me to raise $3,400 so far. But I still need about $1,600 to reach my goal of $5,000. I am offering 1 raffle ticket per $5 recieved online by Wed. July 16th. The raffle prizes include a beautiful homemade quilt and a sculpture of a wildcat. Other prizes may be added. Every dollar will help!

Online is the easiest and best way to donate, it only takes a few minutes. Visit my website at: http://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1

OR mail a check made payable to CCFA to: Jodie DeLay, 706 Home Run Drive, Belgrade, MT 59714

Believe me, I wouldn't ask for money if I didn't believe completely that it will make a difference. The CCFA is one of THE best charity organizations in the world giving over .83 cents on the dollar directly to the cause of improving the lives of people with Crohns and Colitis. Every penny is tax deductible, so heck, why not make a business donation, too!

Thank you all for everything. I will owe you and gladly roll up my sleeves and help however I can with your projects in the future. You're the best. Let's rally and make it to $5,000. Together anything is possible because people are GOOD!!!

jd

Independence

In honor of independence day, I'm going to take a few minutes to share how my life changed when I was diagnosed with Crohn's and became dependent in many ways on all of those around me...and how research and the concerted efforts of my healthcare team - Dr. Johnson and his nurse (then Stacy and now Kim) and all of the staff at the Bozeman GI Clinic - helped me to get my freedom back.

Crohns and Colitis are painful, debilitating diseases. After the birth of my daughter in 1994, I began having abdominal pain which intensified over a period of about a year until it was severe enough that it literally brought me to my knees. I would have these waves of agony after eating that would start high in my center and then roll down into my back. It would release for a minute, and then start over. Each time I felt sure that an alien was going to burst out of me, or that I would literally explode from the pressure. It got where I was afraid to eat. I lost a ton of weight and all my energy. I had a lot of blood in my stool...but I did NOT have the telltale diarrhea that accompanies most people who have IBD. This created a puzzle for physicians and it took nearly a year before the general practioner sent me to the GI clinic for a colonoscopy.

This period of time was extremely frustrating as I was told over and over again that it was depression. I kept saying, but I'm not depressed! I love my baby with my whole heart and enjoy her so much. She gave my life meaning on such a profound level that I was positive that my best days were in front of me. I couldn't wait to grow with her and enjoy all the gifts of being a mom. I had a really good job and was doing well with my career. I was positively not depressed! I was in real, physical agony!

I fell into a pattern where all I could do was go to work, come home and nurse my daughter and hold her and sleep. I was a slave to my pain. I tried really hard to get enough nutrition that I could give Jackie what she needed but that was all I could manage. After the colonoscopy and getting diagnosed, I was put on a ton of medicine and finally was able to get my life back a little bit. I still had fairly regular obstructions and NG tubes, and hospitalizations and absesses. And it was a life dependent on about 40 pills a day, lots of rest, and thinking constantly about what to do to not get sick again. When I was finally able to go about a year without any major setbacks, we decided to have another baby. I suffered a miscarriage and heartbreak, but we tried again.

When I got pregnant with my son in 1998 about 4 months after my miscarriage, I was so HAPPY! But my Crohn's came back with a vengeance and I was sick through his entire gestation. He was born a little prematurely and had some stomach issues of his own. I had to quit work to keep him safe. I was lucky enough to find a job on the internet that allowed my family to survive financially. It was a God-send also for my psyche as I felt like I could contribute something. Still, for that first year I barely could get out of bed. I nursed, Dylan threw up, I nursed again, he threw up... when he slept I lay in bed with the laptop and tried my best to get in as many hours as I could and then I'd sleep and nurse and clean up vomit. I was so weak and sore. WHen Dylan was 11 months old, I had a major bout again and ended up in the hospital. Fortunately, Dylan came around about the same time and at least I was able to stop worrying so much about him.

After about a year of hospitalizations and obstructions and complications things hit bottom when my bowel perforated and I ended up in emergency surgery. My doctors did a fabulous job...believe me before I got to the hospital, I honestly didn't think I was going to survive. That may sound dramatic and outrageous, but it's not exagerated...the pain was unbelievable. I was incredibly weak. I was barely even conscious I hurt so much. WHen the docs said they needed to do surgery, and I may need a colostomy, all I could mutter was I don't care if you have to cut of my arm...make it better. Even after surgery (I did not need a colostomy but had two resecctions done at the same time), it was a solid year before I had any real freedom...before i could go places and do things that normal people do.

A trip to Seattle and specialists at the University of WA confirmed that my doctor had done everything right on. I visited with a naturopathic doctor at the Bastyr clinic there and got some additional hints at how to really get overall better. My OBGYN helped me with some medication for depression, because by this time I was depressed. I was so tired of being so sick for so long. I was tired of not being able to run and play with my kids. I was tired of working in my house and never seeing people. I was tired of having my dreams on hold. I felt like I was living in a prison, sentenced to a life of feeling crappy and not being able to be the mom, or the wife, or the employee or the citizen that I always believed I would be.

ALL the of the people who helped me climb out of this place will always be angels to me. With the help for my depression, I finally saw the light. I commited myself to exercising and getting outside and importantly, REMICADE came along. It was a turning point. It was the difference in moving out of sickness and into wellness. After about a year I got off the depression meds and prednisone and the like and was able to go to infusions every 8 weeks, and prevacid and 6mp. I was able to run the SweetPea 5K, something I 've vowed to do EVERY single year as a reminder to me that EVERY day is a gift and that there is NO guarantee that there won't come a day when I can't run or play again; when I will lose my freedom again to this disease...just like my brother has the last couple of years. Just like my son has the last two years when he couldn't wrestle because it hurt to eat and he was so tired and fatigued.

THis is why I appreciate all of you have donated to this cause. WE need a cure. WE need to free everyone who suffers and give them their lives back. Thank you for helping me and everyone with this effort. IF you can, stop by my page and pledge another $1 per mile... It will go to a good cause. It will make a difference!!! You can make a difference. Happy Independence Day!!!

(Oh, and don't worry, I am well aware that this holiday is really to celebrate our veterans who have made America so great. I am absolutely honored to be American and grateful to the very core of my being for the sacrifices made by generations of soldiers and their families, and by civilians who go about their business every day - making life better for people around the world and making our country one that stands for values and integrity and liberty and justice for all. Thank God for America and God Bless us all!)

Thank you!!
jd

The Line

We all know it's there...the line, the one that separates right from wrong or progress from regression or even just a fork in the road. One of the gifts that I think I have received in having a chronic illness, is respect for the line. It used to be that I was never really satisfied - I could always try harder, push further, do more. I'd burn the midnight oil trying to perfect something or take on way more than it made sense to try to do...chasing after some vision that I wasn't entirely sure of. I suppose this reveals some of the insanity in me, but the truth is I believe I have a destiny. I believe that God has a big plan for me and that everything I do, everyday is part of the preparation for that journey. I learned along time ago -probably in college that God doesn't mind so much if I make mistakes, so long as I really try and that I do what I do with integrity. But it took becoming ill for me to realize that wildly chasing some undefined thing and constantly pushing the line, without specific purpose, really just made me anxious and frenetic.

There was a lot of wasted energy involved, a lot of running around in circles. Becoming ill forced me to put everything in perspective because I was simply not able to do "everything" any more. I didn't have any oil to burn! I had to become more thoughtful about what I chose to do and how I chose to do it. I had to accept that I wouldn't be the best at everything I tried, but that didn't mean it wasn't worth trying.

This is about when I started running. I'm not a great runner - never have been. I'm not really built for it! If you are in my family, you know what I'm talking about! I didn't like running when I was younger because I wasn't at all genetically predisposed for it and I knew I wasn't likely to be the fastest no matter how I tried. I also didn't know the value of good running shoes, but that's another story...

Anyway, my point is, I guess, that learning to take each day one at a time and appreciating the small victories is a real gift that Crohn's disease has given me. I still find myself wanting to push and to perfect some things that really matter to me, but I'm okay with being the best I can be. This week has been tough in a training sense. All of my runs have been a little stiff and I've been frustrated that my pace has dropped off - I don't have time for this, the RACE is in 3+weeks. It finally occured to me yesterday that my problem isn't training or lack of focus or fatigue from over training...it is simply that I need my medicine. I read back to the last time that I was late for my Remicade infusion and saw that I had the same lethargy. I was supposed to have gotten my treatment last friday but had to push it to today because I was stuck at the airport in Salt Lake last week. I'm not off my pace for any reason other than that. It's okay, there is no reason for me to be anxious.

Today, I got up early, left my watch home because WHO CARES what my time was this morning, and had a very nice jog with Monty. I didn't push the line, I respected it. I felt good. I don't know how fast I was, but I came home feeling refreshed and ready to head to Butte for my treatment. After a week of feeling "hollow" - i know that sounds weird but that is really how I feel when I need my meds...it is a centered in the bones, from the very inner part of my being tired...different from - wow I stayed up late tired- I finally feel stress going away. Hopefully, this learning process I'm still in continues and I quit having to waste a week or two before I figure out that the anxiety isn't worth it! But I'm better than I was....

So, what I'm trying to say, in a roundabout way, is that knowing the line is there and respecting it, and making purposeful choices about whether to push it or try to move it is probably one of the most difficult and most satisfying and most ongoing battles that life brings. Not pushing it at all, makes our lives kind of drift and encourages laziness and randomness. Pushing it too much and without purpose makes us anxious and a little crazy. Finding a balance - pushing it intentionally sometimes, like trying to raise $3,800, is GOOD. It's a worthwhile challenge that makes a positive difference. It truly helps prepare for one''s destiny. Leaving the line be sometimes, like learning to run for the joy of running and not because I'm ever going to be the fastest in a race, is wonderful - not everyone can be the best, but the value from running - getting to enjoy long afternoons and early mornings in God's beautiful glory is amazing. I'm not trying to be preachy.

I just feel so strongly that we are all the sum of all of our experiences and even the very worst parts of our lives, the biggest struggles, bring us unimaginable gifts. The line is real, but it isn't meant to be simply acknowledged, it needs to be respected and sometimes challenged. God is truly great and if we take time to listen, He will guide us - even and especially through the toughest of times.

I'm off to get my infusion now and I ask that you all have yourselves a beautiful day.

jd

Normal

After spending last week at a wonderful conference in College Station, TX and the weekend before and after traveling to drop of my son with gramma and grampa, I'm glad to have this week to get back to normal a little bit. Dylan had a GREAT visit. He spent some time camping in Glacier park with gramma and grampa, Aunt Danny and Brody, a quality evening with Uncle Kody and some good time with Tonii and Kayla and finished with the weekend Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Rendezvous. Jackie had a good week working and hanging out with friends and I enjoyed the best conference I've ever attended. Rendezvous was a ball. I got to get my son back which was awesome as I missed him terribly. I had a chance to play some football with BOTH my sisters and a rowdy crew and let me tell ya, it was a laugh out loud, forget about everything else and just have fun kind of a time. LOVED it... no doubt the competitive spirit continues to run strong.

I learned so much at the conference and got so many great ideas that i am promising myself to be very focused and organized at work so that I can get everything accomplished that I want to accomplish and really work on a comprehensive plan for the coming year and years. I am very excited, like a kid in a candy store. Truly, I love my job and im looking forward to each day more than ever. Sounds corny, I know, but its true. It hardly feels like work when you really enjoy the work.

I am a little stressed about the Challenge. My fundraising deadline is upon me and I've got a good way to go. However, I always seem to manage to pull things together in the end. I'll mount a mad comeback somehow.... but certainly it will require help from all of you reading this! I don't have a firm plan yet, but I'll get it together asap.

Training is okay. I feel like I lost a little bit last week being in the very humid conditions of south eastern Texas...it was brutal on this Montana girl used to DRY, DRY climate. STill, I did manage to get in a run all but one day. I had a horrible trip home and ended up spending all of a day and a half in airports so lost another day of training there and another traveling to Rendezvous. I did get in a 6.6 mile run there which was nice, but it was pretty tough too - very hilly, very windy and for part of it at least, rainy and stormy. Today I had a beautiful run and felt good but was a little off my pace. I think I can get it back. I'm just a little in disbelief that I have less than four weeks to go!!! I am SO excited!!!

I'll close with a quick shout to all of you suffering from Crohns. Kody - you are the man. I am so excited for you getting a new place and starting fresh with better health. I know the days are up and down and sometimes the healing seems to be excrutiatingly slow, but pace yourself and know that I think you are a superstar. Friday I'm off to get my Remicade again and every time I sit there getting my infusion I think how blessed I am to have my health back. It really is a gift and I am honored and excited to have it and to be able to reasonably and feasibly be planning to complete a half marathon. It is such a blessing. I will never forget not being able to walk around the block.... THank you God, for all You have done for me.

Jd

Summer!!

Good morning! Guess what, we have had two days of sunshine and seasonably warm temperatures. It feels so good to see the big blue skies that Montana is known for... the snowcapped mountains gleaming with the glow of the sun, the vibrant green foliage and the blooming flowers...I am in seventh heaven.

Today is a weird transitioning day. Dylan is going to the highline to spend the week with Gramma and Grampa. They will have a blast I'm sure. On the docket is a trip to Glacier Park! How wonderful is that! And the visit will end with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Rendezvous celebration, which is always incredibly fun.

Jackie is already at work this morning...crazy. I cant' believe how fast they grow up. This is Dylan's first time going without Jackie. I'm sure he'll do great but I can't help but feel an extra tinge of separation anxiety. Jackie will be busy working and hopefully attending a soccer academy to begin getting ready for the High School season in the fall. I am heading for sunny College Station TX for a conference for work. Busy, busy, busy.

My training is at kind of a new level. It is really interesting because I used to be able to say, I'm going for a quick run....but now my training involves runs that really aren't quick. It is a new commitment of time, especially given the fact that I want to spend the warm, beautiful evenings hanging with my family. STill, my kids have been great. Jackie and Brennan have rode their bikes with me a few times, which is the best. Sometimes it is hard to get motivated, but having someone with me makes it easier to get going. Once I'm going , I'm all on. I truly love running and running. I will do everything I can to keep running long after this race has been run. It's all a matter of getting that first step.

Fundraising is something that I'm just not very good at...it makes me feel a little uncomfortable, but I'm working at it. SO many of you have been so generous. Believe me, I wouldn't ask for your help if I didn't need it. Inflammatory bowel disease is a beast that must be tamed and it can't be done without a whole lot of money. SO I THANK you once again and ask you to keep forwarding this on to people who might want the opportunity to be a part of the cure for IBD.
Increasing awareness is just as important as increasing funds. Thank you for all of your kind words, your prayers, your support.

Finally on this fathers day, a word about my Dad. I try to be humble and gracious in my life, I really do...but the truth is, I do have THE best dad in the world. I can't imagine where I would be without him. Because of him, I know that I am never, ever alone. I know that I can achieve any goal, climb any mountain, conquer any problems that come my way. Because of my dad, I know that true happiness comes from within and that as long as I live my life in a way that makes me proud when I look in the mirror at night, I will be okay. My dad gave me courage, intestinal fortitude and the profound understanding that life is what we make it... God bless my dad and ALL dads.

Happy Fathers Day!
jd

Time

Where does the time go? It wasn't long ago that I decided to take on this challenge of running a half marathon and more importantly raising some money and awareness of Crohns and Colitis. It was a big goal and I knew it would take some dedication, but it was okay because I had a lot of time to get it done.....

Well, time has flown by and here we are on the final march to the prize. I am feeling really good about my training. Last weekend, I traveled to Helena for my daughter's Montana Cup Soccer tournament. It was windy, chilly and a little rainy off and on. Her team struggled on the first day, but rebounded nicely and managed to end the season with a good win. Since we were in Helena, I decided to try the Governor's Cup 5K run. It was really fun. The route was scenic, the people were energetic, the course well lined with volunteers and supporters of all kind. The atmosphere made the race really great. I'll definitely try and do it again. My time was decent, a little under 9 1/2 minute miles on a pretty hilly course. Overall it was a great success. I'm SO very excited for Napa. I imagine that the experience will be similar and I know that I'll be ramped up beyond belief. I can't believe it is SIX weeks away!!

Over the weekend I also managed to referree four soccer games so yesterday I took off and just did some stretching. It was pretty a pretty exausting time. I think just being outside in the wind for two days is tiring!

Anyway, it's time to get serious about the fundraising. You can see that I dropped my goal from $5,000 to the $3,800 that is the minimum. Please know that I am still hoping to get $5,000. Funding more research is so important. If you haven't already, please send this on to your friends and family. I'm finding that those people whose lives have been touched with IBD, are very generous...and its not so much about the asking for money, as it is giving someone a chance to be a part of the cure. If you have a family member who struggles with any kind of a crohnic illness, you know what I mean. I've said before that dealing with my own Crohn's disease isn't as difficult as it is to watch my son suffer from his symptoms, or my brother going through trial after trial.... and my not being able to do anything. This is a chance to do something, so please, pass this along. Every dime counts.

And speaking of my brother, things aren't good. He had his major surgery and we all prayed that it would be the beginning of better things for him. I have to keep reminding myself what a long, hard recovery I had, but its difficult to keep perspective and Kody's disease has been so very different than mine so comparing is really useless. anyway, he had four drains in his abdomen before surgery and the goal was to fix all that plumbing. I learned this weekend that he is leaking out of the area where all four incissions had been. He is back to the doctors this week to try and devise a plan. So PLEASE, keep him in your prayers.

I better get going but I wanted to take just a couple more seconds of your time to thank you for reading this blog and supporting me, whether through funding, prayers, or sharing my site and the plight of my family and so many others. I didn't expect the support of many of you who have stepped up to the plate. It is refreshing and rewarding and I appreciate it very, very much.

Have a great day!
Jodie

Thank You!!!

I want to take just a minute to send a big thank you to all my colleagues who have so generously supported me with donations in the past couple weeks. Your phone calls and emails cheering me on have renewed my hope and given me a boost of energy to carry on with optimism. I can't tell you how important it is to me to achieve my $5,000 goal so i hope that you will continue to support me by passing this on to your friends and family. If you know someone whose life has been touched by inflammatory bowel disease, you know how imperative it is that we find a cure.

With 9 weeks to go, I'm pretty confident that I will be able to finish the race strong - 13.1 miles is something I never thought possible for me, even three months ago! But now, I know that it is in my reach. I'm a long ways from making the money I need, but with the help of all of you, I know it is possible, too.

THANKS for your support, thanks for being my freind, thanks for standing up for me and my brother and my son and everyone who suffers with IBS and IBD and Gerd and all the awful digestive problems out there. You're the best and I'll never forget how you stepped up when I needed your help.

Jodie

time off

Morning everyone!
Well I was able to get some time off this week to catch up with myself and regroup after a very busy spring semester at work. It has been good to take a little time for myself, though being introspective is emotionally draining. My time off started with a visit to Chinook where I got to see my baby sister, Julianne, graduate from college. I am SO proud of her! She has made such positive steps in her life and will be an amazing teacher. I also got to see her twin, Suzanne, shortly after she got her first full time teaching job. Suzanne's son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes last year when he was just three so it has been a challenge for them. It was great for her to get a position in a school where Braden can be in preschool and she can be close enough to give him insulin and such as needed. I also got to see my brother, unattached to any tubes or drains and up and about. He is really coming around. Unfortunately, he's lost a fair bit of weight since surgery, but with our prayers and his determination, I know that he'll get his appetite back and start putting on the pounds. The weekend was a wonderful celebration after a very trying year. My gramma Marge was there and our aunt and uncle MaryShaun and Rick (who are more like cousins and friends) and my wonderfully supportive aunt and uncle Larry and Norma were there too. Norma was recently diagnosed with Colitis - yet another reason to run this race! ALl the kids were there too - the whole group.

I was able to keep up my training while on the hi-line and am pleased to say got in one of my best runs yet. I ran from my house - the long way to town and through town and out to the water plant and then to my brother's house... 7.6 miles in 76 minutes and 45 seconds. It was awesome.

Well, I guess that's all for now. I want to thank all of you who have supported me financially very much - and also thank those of you who have supported me emotionally and mentally. It definitely takes a village to achieve a goal of this magnitude and I couldn't do it without you!

Enjoy your day,
jodie

Race

Good morning, all!

The good news, I've officially reached the half-way point in my training to run the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon on July 20th. I'm really pleased with my conditioning and really confident that I will make this goal.

The bad news, I have until Friday, May 9th, to confirm my place in this race and guarantee my financial commitment of $5,000. I need your help! Please consider visiting my web page: https://www.active.com/donate/napa08national/JDeLay1 and donating to this cause. At least 80% of every dollar raised will go directly to research and support for Crohn's and Colitis, and help is desperately needed. We are so very close to finding the keys to these diseases. I know that we can make a difference.

If you would prefer not to make a donation online, please send a check or money order made out to CCFA or Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America to Jodie DeLay, 706 Home Run Drive, Belgrade, MT 59714. While your help by May 9th is appreciated, I will gladly accept donations through July 20th and the CCFA can use them any time.

THANK YOU! Jodie

Living with chronic illness

I write this post from the perspective of someone who has been blessed with good health for more than six years. I am extremely grateful for the research and discoveries of the last ten years which have made it possible for me to live a normal, active life with Crohn's Disease. My last post I talked about venting and how difficult it was to try and balance a very busy schedule with my need to get Remicade and how a mishap with receiving my medication put me in a vulnerable position. I was feeling considerable discomfort and fatigue because I got off my eight-week routine, and also the mental and emotional anxiety of knowing what happens if I get out of remission. I was feeling the stress of my work and my family and the stress of knowing that being stressed contributes to getting out of remission.

Last Sunday I had probably the best run of my life. I felt so good. Monty (my golden retriever training buddy) and I hit the road near my home on a beautiful (finally) sunny day and we just ran and ran. I made it six miles in 63 minutes...not only a great time for me, but a great validation that what I am doing in trying to get ready for this half marathon in July is working! I felt like I could have even gone further. I didn't hurt. I didn't feel any stress or anxiety. I felt warm sunshine, God's love, the strength of my resolve and the pride of my family.

Tuesday I was in near panic attack mode when I received a call that my remicade was again being delayed. All the joy and the hope I felt went right out the door in about two seconds. I knew I needed my medicine. I need to travel to another town to get my infusion and between the travel and the infusion itself, I need a full day off. I had the day booked. I needed my infusion!

The issue got resolved and my medication arrived. Wednesday I received my infusion. I had to step back from the training program just a bit as the infusion leaves me pretty exhausted. I took the day off and got some rest in the evening. THursday and Friday I had a big meeting at work that went off without a hitch. I love working with the group and always feel refreshed just being in their midst. By Friday afternoon, I was back on track feeling like everything was going to be okay.

This is kind of the roller coaster of chronic illness. On the one hand, the reality is that certain care is necessary; every day there must be an awareness and a recognition, a level of respect given to the disease to do everything possible to stay in remission, and even then there is a chance that you won't....yet every day, one must fight to not let the disease take over what matters. It is a tight rope act and sometimes I slip. But the key is to get back up and get going.

I am absolutely convinced that Remicade and my other medications - 6MP and prevacid, as well as the exercise, the knowledge and support of CCFA and my doctor - Tim Johnson and his nurse Kim , have given me my life back. Because of the research that has been done and is ongoing, I can work full-time and referree my daughters soccers games and play football with my son. I can train honestly for a half marathon! There was a day when walking to the restroom was a chore. The first 5K I ran after my surgeries will always be one of my life's greatest accomplishments.

Because of the research and the tireless efforts of scientists working to discover better ways for treating Crohns and colitis and ultimately finding a cure, my son Dylan, who has still not been diagnosed, but definitley has GI complications, may not need to deal with hospitalizations and consequences including isolation from peers, financial instability and inability to work. My brother Kody will be able to reclaim his life - his ability to hold down a career he loves and play with his daughters. I may never again have to worry that a bumbled prescription delivery could put me in the hospital.

I am asking for your help, again, to fund this research. Please log on to my funding page and give generously. I know that money is tight for everyone, but I also know that this is a way to truly make a difference. At least 80% of on the dollar will go to this research and will put us one day closer to a cure. Every penny counts.

Thanks
jd

Venting

Sometimes I think all I need to do to feel better is to vent a little and get it out of my system. After posting the other day I did a couple of things that have been pretty good for my overall attitude. First, I had my annual exam with the OBGYN. It may seem odd, but it made me feel so much better to have my concerns about my health validated, and explored. We'll do a couple of tests to be sure everything is okay and I won't have to worry any more. That is such a good thing. For any of you who have had a rough time with health - whether its crohns or some odd feeling here or there, it is always so much better to get it checked quickly and avoid anxiety. MOst the time, its nothing, and if it happens to be something, at least you caught it early and its probably going to be easier to deal with.

I also decided that I was going to follow the training from CCFA as a top priority, rain or shine. I was going to picture myself on the streets of NAPA making my goal a reality and I was going to like it. Well, guess what... Last night I had a great run. I got a late start but Monty and I drove a five mile route and then i just decided I was going to do it and like it, and I did. I felt great, managed to finish in 55 minutes and 40 seconds and exceeded my expectations. I finished in the twilight with a light rain and feeling like a million bucks.

This morning I woke up in the cold and snow and decided straight away that I would fit in a workout at the gym, regardless of how busy work got and that was just the way it was going to be. So I did! I got my four miles in on the treadmill, picturing myself in sunny California, in shape and looking good. I didn't "race" really and finished my four miles in 43 minutes - an improvement in my pace of the day before. I am officially back on track!

Of course, since I took time at the gym instead of working, I'm sitting here at 9:00 with a couple of projects left to do... but I know that they'll come out better and probably take less time than if I had made myself sit at my desk and felt bad cause I wasn't getting in a work out.

SO the moral of this post...JUST DO IT!! If you have to pout, do it and then get on with the good stuff. There is too much good in life to waste time feeling gloomy.

Have a great evening and go get your goals. You CAN do it!

delay

Good morning,

Just checking in to let you know how I'm doing. The last week and a half or so have been kind of rough. I normally have my Remicade infusions every eight weeks and by the last week or two I'm pretty tired, a little gassy and have some general soreness. I just don't feel great, but not necessary "bad". I was to have had my infusion on April 2, but it didn't arrive in the mail so I had to push it back. April is a killer month for me at work and because I need a whole day off to get my infusion, I wasn't able to reschedule until next week. I'm really physically exhausted. It's a strong reminder that just because I'm able to function pretty normally, and I've had a long period of remission...I'm not normal. I need regular "care" for lack of a better word.

In my training I was up to about 50 minutes pretty smoothly, and was getting in regular 5k's at about 30 minutes. My "fast" miles were under 9 minutes. I know that isn't great in a general sense, but for me and for not having worked out for awhile up until February, it was pretty good. This last week plus has been painful because to get my 10 minute miles I feel like I'm completely exerted. In addition, our weather has turned again so we've had snow, cold rain, wind...yuck. So, today I'm actually asking for your prayers. This is one of those times where though I know I have choices, sometimes none of the choices really seem that great. I could just miss a day of work and get my treatment sooner, possibly staving off getting sicker but absolutely putting some big signature kind of projects in jeopardy. Or, I can try to slow down, get in a little more rest, focus on my projects and try to hang on to my hat until next Tuesday. The latter is my choice because my work means so much to me and I'm trying so hard to make a name for myself in my new role as assistant director of public relations. I love MSU and I really believe in some of my ideas...I can't just leave them hanging. And,I'm not doing THAT badly... Like I said, it isn't that I feel horrible, I just don't feel good.

I guess its a good reminder to appreciate the days when I do. THanks for checking in and happy trails. As always, I appreciate your support. Please log onto my fundraising page and give as generously as you can.

Jodie

Jackie

Howdy, once again time has flown by... This post is in honor of Jackie who turned 14 on Monday. She is my April baby, full of Aries passion and vigor. It was when I was pregnant with Jackie that Crohn's first reared its ugly head in my life. I'm convinced that there is a link, as the two times that my Crohn's has raged out of control have been during and after having babies! Lest you think i'm complaining or registering any regret, I want to say without reservation or hesitation of any kind that I would go through it all again, times a million, to have my kids. They are the reason that I get up in the morning when things are gloomy, the reason that when I look at the world, the glass is ALWAYS half full, or more. Jackie and Dylan make my heart sing. It's on odd thing really, but honestly I think pretty common that our most difficult times in life often are right in partnership with the best parts of our life. As much as Crohns has complicated things for me and my family, it has also brought me to a peace with myself that I didn't have when I took each day for granted. It has given me patience (yes, I do have SOME patience) and helped me to stop and smell the roses. The truth is that I am who I am because of ALL my experiences and those days when EVERYTHING was hard, even breathing - and walking to the restroom was an incredible effort, make the days like today....when I feel fine but am tired of the wet, cold weather and a little grumpy because of all the work that i have piling up and because I haven't found time to run in two days....seem pretty good. I'm FORTUNATE to have a job that I love and a busy family life and to be WELL enough to go for a run. In truth I think I may be one of the luckiest people in the world. My daughter Jackie reminds me of that every day - just by being her. She is the "well" one and sometimes gets lost in the GI issues that Dylan has had over the past couple of years and before that all of his hearing and throat issues. I just wanted to post today about how much I value her and everything that she is. Her fiery passion for life, her commitment and devotion to the people and things she loves, her sense of humor - even her fears and her failures. She is the perfect daughter for me. THANK YOU, JACKIE!!!

Now, time is starting to wind down on me so I have to ask again, please help, if you can to raise the money we need to cure Crohns and Colitis. WHile it is absolutely a part of who I am, and Ithink I was meant to have it...I also think part of my mission in life - my purpose from God, is to help eradicate it from our planet. PLEASE give generously, every dime counts.
THanks and good night.... go hug your kids!!
jd

Surgery Day for Kody

Hi all, Sorry for the long delay in posting. I promise to do better. Training is going well. I'm getting a good base level of fitness. The Crohns & Colitis Foundation's official training for the 1/2 marathon begins tomorrow. I'm looking forward to having my team, the "National Team," to help motivate me in terms of increasing my volume and efforts of fundraising, awareness and miles.

The big news for today is Kody's surgery. We have all been on pins and needles waiting for this day to come. Many of you know that he has had a very serious flare of Crohns for more than the past year and has twice been in extremely dangerous, life threatening situations. Just after Thanksgiving he was sent to Denver for treatment by specialists. They put him on a PIC line for TPN nutrition and sent him home on a careful plan to help him build up his strength, bulk up and get ready for major surgery. Despite some complications along the way, everything seems to have gone as planned. At 6'7 Kody's weight got as low as about 140. The TPN and medicine regime helped him to gain over 40 lbs of real body weight. He had more color and more energy last weekend when I saw him over Easter than he has had in probably 10 years. Still, he had four drains in his abdomen, the feeding tube, a PIC line.... but he was better than he has been...pretty crazy.

Anyway, surgery today lasted about six hours. They had predicted it would be between 3 and 8. Since he went in at 8:00 I was pretty anxious when 3:00 rolled around and I hadn't heard. But it turns out they didn't actually get started until around 9:30. Anyway, the surgeons didn't encounter anything they didn't expect. They worked slowly and felt like they were able to get Kody fixed up pretty well. I may end up amending this later, but my understanding is that they were able to fully fix one major fistula and repair the bladder independently. They removed a total of about 2 ft of bowel including the terminal ileum, ileal cecal valve and about five inches of colon. They were able to resect with no complications. He lost about four courts of blood so they transfused three courts and have him sedated with a respirator and fluids to try to slow his heart rate down a bit and get him through the next couple days. He'll be in ICU for a day or two. All told, the surgeons seem to have done a great job.

I had a similar surgery in 2oo1. I won't lie, the healing was pretty rough. However, the surgery was the beginning of a new life for me. That, along with a great doctor and staff, some naturopathic things AND some research breakthroughs have allowed me to be pretty well overall. Please pray for Kody to have a similar experience. He has been in so much pain and had so many truly debilitating side effects and complications over the last two years that he can't even remember what its like to be pain free or to be able to run and play with his beautiful children. This disease can be so cruel, robbing a person of his humanity in so many ways. All the prayers you can muster are truly appreciated.

Please pray also for research into this horrible disease to continue and grow so that SOON there will be a cure! I'm proof that good things have been accomplished in the past decade. Let's hope and pray, and work as hard as we can to make sure the progress continues!

THANK YOU for all of your efforts,
jd

Kody signing in Happy Easter

Well let's see, this is the first time i have ever blogged. Anyway I am currently back in the hospital, thanks to a staff infection of my pick line. Being 8 day's away from my scheduled surgery on th 31st of March I think I will probably end up staying here until then. I'm gaining wieght at a good rate and although my albulan level is a little low everything seems to be a go for a succesfull surgery. Hope all goes well and the healing is quick, let you know. later!!

Movin' Along

I'm proud to say that this has been a good week. Everyone is well and we are back on track. Sunday the kids and I went to the gym and shot baskets for a little over an hour and played some one-on-one. Monday I did the DOS workout, Tuesday I jogged for thirty minutes and felt great! Wednesday I rested my sore muscles and yesterday I did 10 minutes on the stepper, stretched really good and did another 30 minute jog - making it further than I did on Tuesday. Today I'll do the DOS workout again and tomorrow rest - hopefully go for a long walk or something. I feel good. It is nice to be moving again and I think Spring being on the horizon is helping alot. I'm actually itching to get on the trails. If you knew me when I was a kid you probably don't believe it, but I really and truly love to run on the trails around Bozeman. I feel so free and the stress and anxiety that can come from life just fades away.

Kody is getting closer to the surgery date and while his weight has increased and his overall strength seems considerably improved, he still has some concerns with numbers (albumin) so please pray for him. Kayla is having a great Medieval Festival at a school and he is so excited for her big day. I so wish I was closer to them so that I could enjoy the event with them. But, at least Mom and Dad and Julianne and Brody are there to help with preparations and enjoy the day. I'm really happy for Kayla and Tonii to have such a positive thing on the horizon. It can make all the difference.

Anyway, thanks for the support and have a great day.

Bumps

Ah geez...10 days since my last post and I'm sorry to say, no exercise in that time! No doubt many of you have either had the nasty flu bug going around, or know someone. Last Tuesday morning it hit Dylan with a vengeance and by night fall I was in the midst, too. Both of us had more of the respiratory symptoms, which was nice because there is always a little bit of panic when the digestive system gets involved. Between the sore ~ achy body, headache, coughing, nausea (but not vomiting) and exhaustion, we were both pretty much in bed for most of the week. Saturday Jackie had a ball game and then Dylan felt well enough to have his birthday celebration. He invited one friend and we stayed at the C'mon Inn. It was lots of fun and a good recognition for turning 9!

Upon return on Sunday, Dylan and Jackie took up a rousing game of Laser Tag. So rousing, in fact, that in his rush to prevent getting hit while still getting a good shot at Jackie, Dylan "miscalculated" and ran full force into the door frame of his room.... Off to the ER we went where he was diagnosed with a concussion...not serious, but enough to keep us very cautious. Having missed three full days of work last week and then Monday to monitor Dylan's situation, I've been swamped at work. I still only feel maybe 80%. So I had a bump in the road with the flu, and then a bump on D's head, and here we are...still out of shape.

While its definitely discouraging, its a good reminder to me of how precious and valuable good health is. When I think of how sick Kody has been for so long, it makes my heart ache. Not only does it bring back memories, but it accentuates Kody's daily struggle and how intensely I love him and want to help him get his life back. PLEASE help us to raise funds to fight this awful disease and PLEASE pray for Kody to get back on his feet. He is a fighter. He doesn't really complain. He just continues day in and day out to do what he can to control this thing. I know how difficult it is to remain hopeful, so please help him by sending your prayers and best wishes. And if you happen across this page, forward it to your friends so that they can donate and send prayers, too. We'll take all the help we can get!

Wrestling

Hi everyone, Well the weekend was a little more sedentary than I planned...this is a new commitment for me so I'm trying to be mindful that moving forward is what counts - even if it is by baby steps!

Friday was a planned day of rest. Per the ASMSU trainier, resting our muscles is just as important in building them, as working out is. And, I needed it...WOW was I sore! Saturday we got up early to go to Dylan's first wrestling meet in Townsend, then rushed back to Belgrade to catch the last 30 seconds of Jackie's basketball game. We were out of light by the time things got settled, so I stretched out really good and did a quick 15 minute jog. I can't tell you how good that felt. Sunday,Jackie had a competitive basketball tournament - three games in a row, and then I had to head into the office to work for a couple of hours so I didn't get in any exercise.

Today I went to the gym ready to roll and my locker room area was CLOSED!!! Oops, I didn't notice the signs last week that said there would be absolutely NO access today so they could fix a couple minor construction issues. I have a meeting after work tonight but I shall will myself to get in at least a short jog this evening. I think getting into the habit of working out again is my first big challenge...one I'm sure I can meet.

I'm going to share for a minute about wrestling. Dylan wrestled two years ago as a 7 year-old and really enjoyed it tremendously. Last year he was excited to get signed up, but then ended up getting the flu. Or so we thought. Whether it was the flu that triggered things, or whether his immune system just got out of whack, we'll never know. But unfortunately, Dylan quickly went from a lean, but energetic, 55 lb kid, to an exhausted, skinny and lethargic 48 lb kid. Seven pounds may not seem like a lot, but when you have about 2% body fat to begin with, it is startling. He missed 13 days of school just trying to get his feet under him. At first I didn't worry any more than a mom does when her child is under the weather, but after a week or so of him refusing to eat much, I found myself begging him to just try SOMETHING.

His response cut me to the quick. He was pretty little during the time that I was really ill, and Kody lives far enough away and was early enough in his latest bout, that Dylan hadn't been exposed to "Crohns talk". He looked at me with tired and frustrated eyes and said, Mom ~ it hurts too much to eat. I asked for more details and he said that no matter what he tried to eat, within a few minutes he felt like a roller coaster was pushing through his gut. He said that it felt like something was grabbing him high in the gut and then rolling into his back so hard he thought it might just go through. Then it would stop for a minute and start over again. This is EXACTLY how I feel when I'm sick. It is not a description that I've ever heard from someone who doesn't have a bowel problem - not the flu, but a problem. I was floored. All I could do was hug him and pray. What else is there?

We had a number of visits to the pediatrician. They did tests to make sure he wasn't celiac and that he didn't have some kind of worm or something. They monitored his weight and blood and took some stool samples. They suggested that we could go to Denver to see a pediatric GI and have a colonoscopy and tests of that nature. We decided to take a slighlty conservative path instead by trying some of the things that I do to get well when I first start flaring. We took him completely off gluten and processed sugar. This is not easy to do, but Dylan was a trooper. We made sure that he slept a ton and when he had energy we did gentle exercise. We gave him lots of liquids and supplemented with vitamins. Within a month or so, he was back to his good ol self. We slowly let him get back to a regular diet. Since then he has had another period where it hurt him to eat and his energy level just completely dropped off. We did the same thing and it seemed to make a difference. He only missed a handful of school days. He is not diagnosed with Crohns, but a mom knows when something isn't right, and it isn't.

I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of Dylan. He turned 9 last week. Even in his youth, he is already willing to be responsible for his health. Two weeks ago he told me very calmly that he should probably lay off the gluten for a bit. He doesn't want to feel badly and already understands that being well may take a little extra effort for him from time to time. He is a brilliant child.

As you know, raising money is a big part of the goal of Team Challenge. The other part, raising AWARENESS, is just as important. Hindsight is 20/20, and most of my family now believes that Kody suffered from Crohns even as a child. At that time, we didn't know anything about the disease. His symptoms were not SO absolutely acute that they demanded response. Like many people who develop chronic disease, the symptoms were gradual and they would come and go. Through NO fault of anybody, he suffered for a long time. AWARENESS of bowel disease is SO important to making sure that people get help in a timely manner.

I solemnly vow to do whatever I can to help with this goal. If anyone reading this would like more information, PLEASE let me know and I'll do whatever I can to help. In the meantime, I will remember to be grateful for the opportunity to sit all day at a wrestling meet....because it means my baby is healthy, and in the end, that is what this is all about.

DOS

Day two of training is now in the books. I'm going to call the workout DOS, for a number of reasons... the obvious - that DOS means two, is the least of those! We live in a world of acronyms and this one, in this case, means - Developing Overall Strength. Since I'm going to be doing a much longer race than I've done before, I decided I better do all the little things the best I can, and I know I need some core strength.

SO - yesterday's workout was filled with squats, lunges, bridges and the like, as recommended by the ASMSU trainer. (By the way, if you are at MSU and have a gym pass, I highly suggest that you give this FREE service a try. There are great people to help you reach your goals.) Participation in Team Challenge includes training, which I'm sure will be wonderful, but it doesn't get going until March so in the meantime, I'll do the best I can.

Back to DOS. Core strength training is something that I've ommitted for many, many years. I've read all the info about how important it is, especially for women, but I've managed to avoid it nonetheless. I have to say, that squats will probably never be my favorite. However, it feels good to have some soreness (okay, quite a bit) in areas where I definitely want to get some definition so I shall plug away. Also, in the past couple of years as I've just started running without any kind of core training, I've managed to get injuries - hamstrings, shin splints, knee soreness. So I think this will help.

If you have Crohns or Colitis or a close family member or friend who does, number 2 is a frequent part of regular discussion.... You know what I mean. It is unavoidable, really. However, it is awkward and hard for the general public to talk about poop, so this reference DOS, is kind of a loving way of embracing one of the most difficult parts of talking about the problems associated with Crohns, and one of the most difficult parts of training, all into one small little phrase.

I wanted to say one more thing in this post... I sold myself a little short in my first post by saying that I haven't been disciplined in the last while. That's not entirely true. Being in remission from Crohns over the last few years, has not been accidental or a matter of luck. I've worked at it. My GI, Dr. Johnson, and his nurse Kim, help me to be very, very diligent about regular check-ups, blood work, infusions and the like. They are wonderful and without them, I have no doubt that things would be much different for me. I also have learned a lot about my triggers -things to avoid - to help me stay on track. Getting overly tired, for me, can be really dangerous. I've had to learn to say NO, sometimes more than I like. There are periods of time where I feel some pain and I put myself on a liquid, highly nutricious diet. I am faithful in taking my B12 shots. I know that at some point, I might have a bout in SPITE of all this that I do, but if that happens, I'll be able to say that I did what I could to avoid the trouble.

I have slacked in terms of exercise, and that is what I meant yesterday. Life is so busy - and I'm so grateful to be participaing actively in life! It is truly a blessing that I'm able to work full time and participate in my kids activities and community service, etc. I just haven't made exercise a priority, and that is what I'm changing now. It does make a difference -for EVERYONE! But, maybe especially for people with chronic illness. None of us are perfect, we can only do our best. I fell off in this area, and now I'm turning it around. It's all good!

Day One - Training begins.

Well, I hummed and hahhed, and delayed working out for more than a year. One thing I'm sure of is that exercise helped bring about the remission that I've been in for several years. Yet, somehow, I've let it lapse and lately, I'm feeling some uncomfortable symptoms again. Staying well with Crohn's requires discipline, and I haven't had much. This race is about so much - and one of the big things for me, is getting back to being the me that I really like.

So, day one is in the books. I went to the brand new gym on campus, set up my locker and went swimming. I wasn't even detoured when my goggles broke. I got in 1250 meters. I did some freestyle and some backstoke, along with some kicking. It felt amazing. FINALLY, my procrastinating is over.

I stepped on the scale afterward.....OUCH!!!! Let me just say that the last time I weighed this much I was nine months pregnant... I knew my pants were tight and that I didn't look how I liked, but this was an eye-opener. I'll drop the actual number later, but for now, suffice it to say that I'll be addressing this issue straightaway! I'll need to drop 25 lbs to be comfortable again, and I'm sure I can do it.

I mentioned my brother being sick and I want to take a second here in post one to tell you a little about him. He is a year older than me (37) and has been horribly sick for well over a year now. Recently the VA flew him to Denver to see about doing some surgery but they decided he was too ill. He's home now getting full TPN, nothing through the mouth and trying to heal some and put on a little weight before they try to do a resection and fix some fistulas that are connecting from his bowel to his bladder. His life has been turned upside down. He has two beautiful little girls, aged 10 and 12, who need their daddy back on his feet. He needs to get healthy so he can get his confidence back. He needs hope that it WILL get better. This race, for me, came about because of him. I was in a very similar place several years back and with everything in my being I want to help him get through this thing. The best I can do is to love him and support him and try to speed up the next great treatment and heck, maybe even cure.

This is the best way I could think of to try and help Kody, and everyone else out there who is in the throws of this beast. There is a better day ahead.

Because he is in a quest to GAIN weight, and I in a quest to LOSE some, here's my plan. As soon as I (at 5'10) weigh LESS than he (at 6'7) weighs, I'll let you know! Hopefully this is really SOON!