Aaron

Here are two brothers who are six years apart and share a love of the outdoors, skiing, food as well as a good laugh. They also both have Crohn’s disease. “We have more in common than we’d like,” they say with a chuckle.

Aaron was the first to be diagnosed at age six. “Our family was in a state of havoc,” remembers Andrew who was 12 at the time. “We weren’t familiar with the disease and had no family history. Aaron was constantly in the hospital or sick at home in the bathroom. It was an endless worry. Every vacation, party and event we planned ended up getting canceled as we were in perpetual crisis mode. And then, when I was 16, I started presenting with similar symptoms.”

Andrew’s diagnosis came quickly as his parents knew the signs and although he avoided overnight hospitalizations, remission took over a year. He was one of the lucky ones.

Does the disease define them? OF COURSE…how could it not! But let’s be clear. It defines them in ways that gives me the motivation to run 26.2 miles in their honor. It gives them strength, maturity, compassion and bravery, and let’s be honest…it’s ZERO PERCENT fun.

Aaron spent eight years struggling to get into remission, stay in school and make it through a day hoping to avoid and in fear of tremendous pain, doctor’s appointments, or an embarrassing accident. For three years, Aaron stopped growing because of all the steroids, which not only caused leg cramps and weight gain, but also left him with a huge disadvantage playing sports, an important part of his life. Throughout elementary and middle school, he endured painful shots, crazy diets, and non-stop doctor’s appointments along with the disappointment of one therapy after another failing to work. “While I looked fine on the outside, my insides were a wreck,” says Aaron. “How can having a chronic illness not define you. It does, but for me, it has in good ways. I’m hopefully more compassionate, I don’t sweat the little things, and it’s given me the drive to do well so that I can go to medical school and become a gastroenterologist.”  

Andrew and Aaron are now 27 and 20 years old, respectively. There is no cure for these chronic and challenging diseases so they will never “cross the finish line” like I will do in this marathon. There are no post-marathon accolades, pats on the back, or rest from their disease. These brothers are the real champions and their marathon is for the rest of their life, unless and until a cure is found. I run in honor of Andrew and Aaron for a cure so they too can put their disease behind them. This marathon is nothing compared to what they endure and for these reasons, I hope you can support me and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Together, we can raise critical funds for research as we believe a cure can be found with the right resources.

26.2 for the younger brother, Aaron. 

Marathon #76 – Recap