What does "having it all" mean to you? All as in, you've got everything that makes you happy in your life and you're not lacking anything? Or ALL as in you're satisfied with what you have so you'd like to think you have it all?
When I first started "Mommy's Got it All," I had a vision. I was going to be a blogger that brought you, the mom everything you could possibly need! It was going to be a one stop, mommy shop. Did you really think that I meant that I have it all? As in personally? hahahah!
Ok, let's be honest...I do have it all! I'm satisfied with what I have and I'd like to think that I have it all. I'm not talking about "show me a satisfied man, and I'll show you a failure" type satisfied, but I am happy with my life. I have a loving husband, a healthy growing daughter, a family that cares, a couple of friends that I can depend on, a roof over my head, my health, shoes on my feet, and a meal on my table. I'm not rich. Because if I was, let's face it...I wouldn't have a blog because I'd probably lead a super dull life and have nothing to say that anyone REALLY cares about. I'm not a model nor could I ever be. I'm really nothing but your average, everyday mom. :)
Ok, so take two steps back. So...what's the other part of "all" that I'm missing? I'll tell you. A CURE! Yep, bet you didn't expect me to say that, did you? You see...
My husband has Crohn's Disease. I've for a very long time wished that I could take that burden from him and I've prayed everyday that there would be a cure sooner than later. Most people do not even know what Crohn's Disease is. Even having gone to college to start my nursing degree and everything else, I knew very little about it! Without going into a lot of detail (this can come at a later date). Crohn's is an inflammatory bowel disease that currently doctors know very limited about. There are a few treatments but each Crohn's patient is different, and each flare can be very different, proving it to be very difficult to treat. There are a lot of diseases that have come to light and have gotten a lot of research attention because of a celebrity or because of the spike in cases. Unfortunately, I am not a celebrity and most Crohn's patients prefer that people do not know about their disease.
I originally wrote ^THAT^ as part of a blog post on a old blog I had. I aspired to change the world. I was determined that I could do something big to help my husband and other people like him. He's actually not the only person near and dear to my heart that has Crohn's disease; my mom's best friend does. Ironic, huh? But unfortunately it just didn't work out the way I wanted it to. So here I am again, trying to get the word out.
I bet you're wondering, why now? What's changed? I'll tell you what brought me back to the same place I was not too long ago. My best friend sent me a link to another blog about a little boy. YES, I said little boy that has Crohn's. I could have just about died reading that blog. How could a 4 year old have such a horrible disease? My husband was diagnosed when he was in high school. It's bad enough trying to get through high school without a heavy burden, but to be a child and know that you're going to have to live with this for the rest of your life (because I do not believe there will be a cure in our lifetime as sad as I am to say that) is more than unfair. Picture this...a child that has to go to school at age 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or really any age and has an accident because they couldn't make it to the bathroom. They have very little or absolutely no control over their bowels. Humans these days are so incredibly cruel. Do you honestly think that the majority of people are going to cut them slack? I highly doubt it, unless they just happen to be "elected" into the "popular" crowd. Your heart is breaking now, isn't it?
My heart broke the day I read about Caden having Crohn's Disease. My heart breaks every single day I have to see my husband deal with a disease he didn't deserve. Actually, my heart breaks for so many that have illnesses and diseases they do not deserve. That brings me here today to ask you for help. I ask that if you are the praying type, please pray. I will also boldly ask, if you are looking to support a cause, consider supporting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. I'll even go as far to say...IF by chance, Shannen Doherty or any of the other famous people that have Crohn's disease is reading this would...would you please stand up and start a campaign? THAT would be even better. After all...look how much Magic Johnson has done for HIV awareness and patients.
I bet you're wondering, why now? What's changed? I'll tell you what brought me back to the same place I was not too long ago. My best friend sent me a link to another blog about a little boy. YES, I said little boy that has Crohn's. I could have just about died reading that blog. How could a 4 year old have such a horrible disease? My husband was diagnosed when he was in high school. It's bad enough trying to get through high school without a heavy burden, but to be a child and know that you're going to have to live with this for the rest of your life (because I do not believe there will be a cure in our lifetime as sad as I am to say that) is more than unfair. Picture this...a child that has to go to school at age 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or really any age and has an accident because they couldn't make it to the bathroom. They have very little or absolutely no control over their bowels. Humans these days are so incredibly cruel. Do you honestly think that the majority of people are going to cut them slack? I highly doubt it, unless they just happen to be "elected" into the "popular" crowd. Your heart is breaking now, isn't it?
My heart broke the day I read about Caden having Crohn's Disease. My heart breaks every single day I have to see my husband deal with a disease he didn't deserve. Actually, my heart breaks for so many that have illnesses and diseases they do not deserve. That brings me here today to ask you for help. I ask that if you are the praying type, please pray. I will also boldly ask, if you are looking to support a cause, consider supporting the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. I'll even go as far to say...IF by chance, Shannen Doherty or any of the other famous people that have Crohn's disease is reading this would...would you please stand up and start a campaign? THAT would be even better. After all...look how much Magic Johnson has done for HIV awareness and patients.
I know we're all lacking somewhere...do any of us really have it all? Now you know this mommy doesn't really have it all...but I'd like to think that I'm pretty darn close! :)
Thank you for your post!! I have known a few people with Crohn's and it is such a debilitating disease. As a mom with a chronic illness (severe asthma) I am so thankful that you are bringing attention to this problem. It seems that if it doesn't kill you quickly it's not worth curing. Let's change that!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post both Andy and I both have crohns and it's a nasty chronic disease that gets over looked at times.
ReplyDeleteThis was SO SWEET of you to mention Caden in your blog! His mom took him to John Hopkins last week for a second opinion. The doctor there thought that it was possibly just a little worse than his doctor originally thought it was. They are in the process of organizing a fundraiser to help support his family and all of the extra expenses they are going through at this time. His family and their nearby friends also plan to participate in a Chron's Walk in June. However, I know that on behalf of his mother that the request for prayers will mean more to her than anything else in the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks again,
MS Do!
I was in beauty school with a girl who was diagnosed with Crohns. I remember we all cried with her as we learned about long term issues. Sharing your post.
ReplyDeleteMarie H
Howard house
What a beautiful post. I wish they could find cures all these diseases.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story with us. I am glad you and other people are trying to get the word out about Crohn's. I had a friend in school who had to bring his lunch every single day and he couldnt do the class parties or anything. He was often in the bathroom and people made fun of him for that and being absent so much. No one seemed to understand that what he had. I was so glad when his mom took him out to home school him but sad that I couldnt see him everyday at school anymore.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am the mother of Caden and I just want to say THANK YOU!! This post was awesome. I am so sorry to hear that your husband also suffers from this horrible disease. I will be keeping him and your family in my daily prayers. My friend Dolores (MS DO) commented on this also, and she is right....I APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL PRAYERS FOR MY LITTLE GUY!! The prayers from all of you are what keeps us going when we feel we can't continue. In truth we have no choice but to continue, but this is a long hard road that we face and without your prayers that road would be much worse. We need to get the word out about Crohn's disease and educate as many people as we can!! God Bless you and your Family.
ReplyDeleteHI, My son is 11 and has been recently diagnosed with crohns. This has affected our entire family. If anyone comes across an actual cure, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know. Thank you..
ReplyDeletemreyn952000@hotmail.com
Thanks to everyone for their kind words and support. In recent months my husband has tried multiple new drugs with none of them helping. He's currently on Remicade and he thought it was helping the first week but has gotten worse more recently. We're also currently trying some other herbal remedies, bland and gluten free eating, and a few other things. I promise if we ever find anything that truly seems to work, we will gladly pass that information along. Thanks again for the support and much love and comfort to all of the families affected! <3
ReplyDelete