A Dream & Speaking Out -Crohn's Disease-

In the past 2 months the responses to my website have been nothing less than AMAZING and I am really seeing the need for my site and my type of personality in the IBD community. No I am not high on myself I just mean someone that is grateful for life, and can show someone that they should never give up hope, and show them all they need to do is believe and make different decisions in their lives.

I have emailed CCFA, and CCFC to try and volunteer for both of these organizations but I have yet to hear a response back from them. They may not be interested in what I have to say but I will be persistant until they give me an actual response. I would love to be able to speak out at one of these events and tell people my story even if it only sheds the light to "a" single person it will be worth it. I have had my site up for only a few months and the positive emails responses are insane. Even if I was to become 100% crohn's disease free I will never stop my involvement in this cause. I advise anyone reading this to always hold me to this promise.

Like, Martin Luther King I TOO have a dream that one day all newly diagnosed IBD patients will consider natural treatment methods before invasive medical drugs and procedures. A day when you read, watch, listen about IBD's you will hear about more stories of perseverance and triumph than pain and suffering. A day when people who regained their health go about their life with a greater appreciation for it and a new found purpose to help inform others who are suffering.

It always starts with a dream, but I have wrote it down and it now becomes something tangible which I can touch and feel (atleast after I print it out lol) MLK had a dream and so do I!!!!! Hopefully some of you can also be part of this dream.

Crohnsboy

CCFC (Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada) Seminar, actually a little suprised

Today I went to a CCFC seminar and will admit I was sort of surprised in some ways. I was expecting to hear a lot of medical BS but It was actually pretty good for the most part.The first doctor that was talking was leading a research project called the GEM project which is looking to find some of the causes to CD. The impressive thing about his approach is that they were looking at many features such a north-south factors, food-diet, genetics, where you are from in the world, etc He also seemed to really state that IBD were caused by more than one thing and not just looking for a single disease causing agent.

I think it is great what this doctor is doing but I still think we have to focus our attention on other things. I was in this room and I’m thinking do most the people in this room really care what causes the IBD?? Or are they looking for an answer on how to improve their quality of life. With all their money and resources why wouldn’t we research the people who have overcome crohn’s disease and colitis and then see what these people did to beat their disease’s…..? that seems like common sense yet nobody has done it…..why? I got better my searching for people who beat their disease and then I modeled the process..the concept seems pretty easy to me. I just really think we have to focus our efforts on what is currently working for people rather than dumping excessive funds into drugs and research on what causes it etc. They have been studying for like 30 years and really how far have they come?? Still no medical cure?

There was a chiropractor doctor who has a practice that treats IBD patient using a holistic approach, and he has had many patients become med and symptom free. I was very impressed to see this guy up and talking at a CCFC event!!! I think I may have judged them a little to hard at first. I may not agree with all of their approaches but I do see some good in what they do and the people who volunteer their time etc. I am going to try and speaks at my local chapter etc. I may try to volunteer for some of the events etc, I think I am more suitable to talk to the group and maybe motive them and create a sense of hope etc rather than volunteering at individual events. I think everyone has their purpose and mine is being a good communicator so I might as well exploit it.

There was a dietician at this event and I did not agree with almost anything that she said lol I had to sit their and listen to a lady who said that it didn’t make a difference in which carbs and sugars that you eat?? I was thinking to myself does this lady really know what she is talking about?? What is her success rate when giving advice for IBD patient’s. If these here clients are not symptom free I wouldn’t even consider what she is talking about. It’s just hard because when you get a group together and you hear a professional “licensed dietician” say things you tend to take their word for it….right? but if I would have took her advice I know in my heart I would not be symptom free. I just hope each person is able to tell what info is legit or not.

There were 2 young girls names Janelle and who spoke about The Gutsy Generation which is a new networking branch under CCFC which is aimed at younger people with IBD’s. I think this is an awesome idea to concentrate on helping younger people!!!! Both these girls did an excellent job at presenting their info and making their sincerity in the cause out to be very evident. I also had an opportunity to speak with both of them and they were both super cool chicks. I think it is people like this who hold the power of really helping spread the word of how to help ppl with IBD’s get better and how to libe with the disease etc.

I just really want to give a shout out to anyone who is actively trying to promote the cause!!! Your doing awesome. I also hope that you always try to keep an open mind to treatment options for IBD’s etc it’s crucial to keep an open mind in order to overcome these diseases.

Keep up the good work!

Family and Friends

I have mentioned in other posts that I grew up in a rough area, single parent family, we did not have that much money, over all family life was pretty shaky and I constantly get people that have asked me how did you turn out the way you are? Beating the odds etc. This seemed to be on my mind a lot in the last few months so thought it was worth writing about.

Even though my family life was far from the most healthy I still believe that both my parents passed on some of the attributes which have contributed to my success. My mother always showed my brother and I that it was important to treat all people equally, be compassionate towards others, told us that she believed in us, we could do what we want with our lives, how important it is to tell a woman she looks beautiful when you think it, and that it’s okay to voice your opinion and speak about your feelings. My father showed us the importance of keeping your word, fighting for what you believe in, how to master arguing lol, stick up for yourself and your family, keep your word, save money, how to be independent, and to make sure we learned not to give a shit about what other people think about us and not let people opinions dictate who we are or what we should do.

I am not going to bother commenting on any of the negative stuff b/c I really do not care about it and have moved on from that part of my life. One of my main issues in life was holding a grudge against my parents, or just being mad at the world for not dealing me a perfect hand. Only within the last year or so can I honestly admit that I let this stuff go and really moved forward in life. I can’t put into words how much this held me back in life, whether is made me angry, insecure, or resentful. Once I understood I could not change the past I was forced to deal with it and move on. I think every person deals with things different ways etc but one thing I can tell you is that “it wont be easy” but it will be worth it in the end. Once you deal with this you’ll be amazed that doing drugs, getting juiced, or other abusive actions will not be necessary to make you feel good in life. Yeah I am far from perfect!! I have been there done that and back again J But regardless the good stuff and bad stuff that has occurred in my life is what has made me who I am!! And I am pretty damn proud of myself so you do not hear me complaining.

The most influential people in the last 10 years of my life have definitely been my friends and their families. Most of my friends are from Portuguese decent, I didn’t go out of my way to befriend all the chops in my hood but it just ended up that way lol. Many of these friends invited me into their families allowing me to learn about their culture, morals, belief, and my favorite their FOOD mwuahh. What Portuguese people have taught me the most is the REAL importance of family and how important it is to be happy. When I say family I do not just mean blood line but the people in your immediate circle etc. They make sure that the family and friends stay close and get together on regular basis. I never learned how important family/friends really were until I was like 21. If any of my friends happen to be reading this just want to say you guys rock!!! And I love all of you mofos J

I think it’s important to make sure you have time for your family + close friends because these people have such a huge bearing on how happy you are. Sometimes we find ourselves too busy to make time but that is just a sad excuse that will send us on a road to NOWHERE which leads to the town of UNHAPINESS (corny I know)

Have a GREAT WEEKEND!!!

.