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