What has been your biggest accomplishment?
At about the age of 29, maybe a little younger, I began a bout with Crohn's Disease. Crohn's is a disease without a cure, and a disease with no known source. For ten years I fought Crohn's in agonizing pain every day and night. The pain is estimated to be equal with that of an appendicitis attack, except it comes every day and without warning. I lost almost all control of my bodily functions and because of that I was unable to work with any degree of steadiness. In November of 2004 after 10 years, I could not take the pain any more and decided I was going to get treatment whether I could afford it or not. You see, prior to this I had never had any extended treatment because I had no insurance. I couldn't work. I weighed less than a hundred pounds, could barely walk, and every bone in my body was visible. I spent 3 weeks on an intravenous central line flow of straight lipids, medical steroids, ultra vitamins and who knows what else. I then received an intestinal surgery during which a part of my intestines that had been destroyed by Crohn's was removed. The section removed was so badly damaged from all the inflammations that it was shrunken to the size of a drinking straw. I spent the end of November and most of December in that hospital bed. I was released on Christmas Night 2004. I began what is becoming a complete recovery. Now I ride for those who can't, to raise research and assistance monies so they may find cures for the many diseases and hardships they face in this wonderful world.