Adventures in Birthdays

Today is my birthday and generally, I don’t usually make a big deal about it. The only thing I accomplished is not dying, so it seems weird to me to celebrate. I was born on this day but I had nothing to do with it. I’m weird like that. Typically I just have dinner with my family, nothing crazy.

This photo was taken on my 25th birthday, which was about two months after getting my first colostomy. It was the first time in a long time that I was feeling great. There was a lot to celebrate that night.

Last year on my birthday I was in the hospital dealing with an ovarian cyst. Everyone felt so bad that I was in the hospital on my birthday and I literally didn’t care. If I wanted to, I can celebrate my birthday any day.

I remember my first birthday after being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, I spent much of the evening running to the bathroom during dinner. The night ended with me crying in the car and my family trying to cheer me up.

I think after that I decided birthdays weren’t a big deal. As a kid (pre-Crohn’s Disease) I was always sick with something on my birthday. It was like a curse. Then Crohn’s Disease came into my life and I longed for the days of having a cold or stomach bug on my birthday.

I’m a year older and grateful because not everyone gets a chance to get older. Yes, I may not feel as young as I am, thanks Crohn’s Disease, but I’m still here fighting another day. Later this week I will be heading to Savannah to run in the Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon with Team Challenge and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Well . . . when I say run, I mean mostly walk and maybe crawl if I need to. Just one foot in front of the other.

Here’s to another year fighting Crohn’s Disease!

Psst! If you’re feeling generous and want to celebrate my birthday I encourage you to donate to Team Challenge and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.