Please dig deep people, when we have reached that pain barrier, knowing the money you have donated and where it will go, will make all the difference and get us to the end.

Kel's Story:

This journey started in the beginning of 2016 when Mum (Ginny) was interested in joining some of her work colleagues in the Marathon Moon walk in London, a charity event raising money for Cancer.  A couple of long awkward silences and stares later, I was somehow doing that with her!!  As it turned out for one reason or another we weren't able to take part in the moon walk so fast forward a year and we are back in the same position.  Mum really wanted to challenge herself and complete a Marathon walk  but being the social Butterfly she is,  was busy on the weekend of the Moon walk!!  So we set ourselves our own Marathon Challenge to take place on the weekend of the 6 or 7th May 2017.  

This is the Bit where I fully intend to pull on your emotional heart strings to get you digging deep into your very dusty pockets.  Why did we choose Crohns and Colitis as our Charity.  I hear many of asking, what is that??   Here comes the not so science Part:  Crohns Its an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) which can affect anywhere in the digestive track, so basically your mouth to your bum, Delightful I know!  Its a Chronic disease so something you live with for the rest of life with varying severity.  Some of you may already know that I suffer with Crohns but have only had one flare up some 20 years ago.  Apart from the physical scares, nobody can really tell I have it apart from my poor long suffering friends that have had the delight of sharing a bathroom with me (oh so glamorous ) but least we can joke about it now, i consider myself one of the lucky ones :-).  No heart strings are broken yet!!! Tissues at the ready, I'm getting there......  In late 2016 I noticed my daughter Gracie (8 years old) becoming slightly withdrawn and lacking in energy,  she just wasn't herself.  She then started to complain of stomach ache and headaches.  Picking her up from school I could instantly tell she wasn't feeling well and it broke my heart not know what was wrong with her.  A few trips to the doctors later and she is referred to a specialist.  Taking one look at her and coupled with my history he announces I suspect your Daughter has an IBD.  I managed to hold it together as that's what i do best but also for Gracie, although inside utter turmoil.   I knew exactly what was awaiting her in her diagnostic tests as I had been there myself and they are not pretty or dignifying in any way!!  How do you explain to an 8 year old what awaits her.  I took the honest approach and made jokes of it (poo talk is ok in our house) and I think it helped her understand.  I believe she found solace In knowing she maybe had the same as Mumma and Mumma is ok.  In true Gracie style she smashed the MRI and Blood tests but she was a little apprehensive about the endoscopy and colonoscopy she had yet to come.  The blood results already showed sky high inflammatory markers so the specialists suspicions were becoming a reality.  6 very long weeks later (thank the lord for Calpol) On Saturday 17th Feb she was admitted to hospital for the final tests, to be carried out under general anesthetic.  Not sure who was the most nervous, that was a 1st for us both.  20 minuets (felt like hours) after kissing her goodbye in the theater the specialist was back in the room confirming she has Crohns disease.   I was still holding onto the hope that she may not have it.  Luckily this flare up was mild and he suspected she was on her way into remission already.  A very emotional day for everyone In the family.  My Little superstar taking it all in her stride.

Medication started and I start to see my little girl return to her old self.  Laughing, bursting with energy and back to being the child she should be.  Its a bit of a roller coaster, the night before writing this, she was vomiting and complaining of chest pains at 4am.  A delightful side effect of the medication she is on, so now more medication to counteract the side effects 😕

The bit that gets me the most and what I think she is unaware of is how is this going to affect her in the future, when will her next flare up be, how bad will it be, needing to urgently find a toilet, the embarrassing moments associated to this......The disease is so unpredictable and can be dam right life changing.  The Cause of Crohns is unknown but there is evidence of a family link so you can imagine how that makes me feel. Not being able to take away the pain is the worst bit.  It literally does rip your heart out.  Its so unknown for her bless her.  But when and if the next flare up comes, she will be surrounded by Love and care, we have to trust that she will be ok and that's she got this.  My Girl is a trooper!!

FYI we nick named Crohns - Cruella

Gracie's Quotes:

Gracie: Mumma my tummy hurts, what is Cruella doing in there??? Me: having a party I reckon.  Gracie: With all the villains as well I think!

Gracie: I wish I could Poo out Cruella (Fits of giggles)

Gracie: I'm a medicine taking machine (#proud of herself for being able to swallow capsules)

Gracie: if god made the world, why did he make illnesses?? 😔

The Charity Spill for those of you that have got this far into war and peace!

Crohn’s and Colitis UK is a national charity in the battle against Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. We are fighting to achieve a better quality of life for the 300,000 people in the UK suffering physically and emotionally from these and other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Ultimately, we want to find a cure.