Dad (again)

Marathon #51 – 26.2 for Dad (again)

Dad’s Updated Story:

I started off 26.2 For You running the first marathon for my dad and as I continue this journey, heading towards 100 marathons, I’m running another one for him. Here is the new rule, he can get two marathons run for him because well, he is my dad. I ran the first marathon in 2018 and it’s now nearing the end of 2021 and a lot has happened since the start of this marathon journey. Not just what has changed around the world with the pandemic, but with my dad’s story and his health battle.

That’s the thing with IBD and for my dad’s case, his ulcerative colitis, it can be fine one day and then in the blink of an eye it can all change. The start of 2020 saw the pandemic start and Covid case when crazy and completely changed the way we approached how we lived. One of the scariest things with Covid was that it was a serious threat to everyone, but especially to those with a compromised immune system, which is the case with my dad. The last thing he wants is to get sick and he definitely did not want to contract Covid.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis do not care about a global pandemic. These diseases do not care what is going on in your life and a flare or a serious complications can happen at any time. Unfortunately for my dad, a few months into the pandemic last year his colitis decided to flare and it was serious enough for him to have to go into the hospital. So in the middle of a pandemic, pre-vaccinations, my dad who again, did not want to get Covid, had to go to the hospital where the risk of catching Covid was pretty high.

My dads flare was made even more complicated because he was also dealing with another medical issue. This issue was one the doctors wanted to address first before dealing with the colitis flare. It was a hard time for him health wise during the peak of the pandemic. Another thing that was made even more difficult was that no one was allowed to go into the hospital with him. The hospitals in Boston at the time were not allowing anyone into the hospital for safety concerns. This was extremely hard to literally drop him off at the door and then be told to drive away. He went into the hospital and we just had to wait for either him or the doctor to call to get any update on what was going on.

After talking with others who experienced similar situations, it was unsettling knowing others were dealing with the same scenario. Dropping a loved one off at the hospital because they were sick and being told you were not allowed to go in with them or to visit them later, was hard. Prior to this flare, my dad had been doing so well and his colitis was completely under control. He was doing great and having no symptoms at all for quite some time. This literally came out of no where.

Once the other medial issue was more under control my dad was eventually treated with a series of infusions just a few weeks apart. The medication he was on before, for his colitis didn’t work this time around so the new medication, given through the infusions thankfully did the trick. He is lucky that it worked because I know it can be hit or miss with medications for treatment and it’s usually a miss more often than a hit. He is now currently on the infusion regimen, which he receives once every eight weeks now. The infusions are working and he is doing so much better but this is far from a permanent fix.

Like most IBD patients, the mediation he is on seems to be working, but that can all change in a very short time. Everyone is different and their bodies react to the medication they are on in strange ways. I’m thankful that my dad is better and that his flare is gone, but it’s always scary knowing it can come back at any time. Infusions help but they are still not a cure.

Thanks in large part to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation we have many treatments for those who suffer from IBD. The strides that have been made over the last 10 to 15 years alone is amazing. I know we are heading in the right direction and are closer to cures than we have ever been.

I know this experience my dad and my family had last year was one that many other families dealt with as well. Dropping a love one off at the hospital and not knowing what was going on is nerve racking and anxiety raising for sure. Many can relate and that’s why I felt I needed to share.

I’m thankful my dad is feeling better and hopeful the infusions will continue to work. However, I know that can change so I will not stop running because it’s what I can do to help raise money and raise awareness for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Doing this means we will get even better treatment options and hopefully those cures we desperately need. We will get there, one marathon at a time.

This 26.2 For You is for you Dad, again!