Team Challenge CCFA

About 8 months into our marriage, Chad was placed in the hospital for 10 days. It was January of 1995 and he was a few weeks into his last semester of college, I was 6 months into a job that I loved. I received a phone call that he had left work and was going to the ER, I needed to meet him in the parking lot of my office building in 10 minutes.

It was a Friday night and I honestly thought we would be home later in the evening for a late dinner. Wrong...

Over the course of the next 10 days a multitude of tests were run. Physically he seemed to be deteriorating before my eyes. After all the tests were run and many things ruled out, he was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.

This disease affects your digestive system. Chad had been dealing with it for as long as he could remember and once he was diagnosed, it was out of control. His weight wasn't much more than mine and I weighed about 105 pounds at that time.

The diagnosis of Crohn's disease left us with more questions than anything. So little information was given to us. Of course we were told what foods to avoid and he was given a multitude of medication. We went home and started life.

God was so faithful to us during that time. I believe He put blinders on my eyes so I wouldn't see just how bad it was. Looking back at pictures, I tremble. I knew he was sick, but at the time I didn't see just how sick he was. I didn't treat him like he was any different than the Chad I had fallen in love with and married. There were two nights in particular that I remember thinking, he's not going to make it until morning. That's a lot for a 20 year old to comprehend. But, God lovingly ushered morning each time and I praise Him for that.

He finished college a semester later than we planned, but he finished and walked at graduation. When we look at pictures from that day, I realize just what a miracle he is.

Through surgery, medication and most importantly the power of God, his Crohn's is in remission. He is back up to his "fighting weight"! Over the years, we have learned what triggers an attack, and when the Crohn's is fixing to flair up. We are both in agreement that God allowed us to walk through sickness and health early in our marriage so that we could be an encouragement to others who are going through similar things.

This coming January will mark the 13th anniversary of his diagnosis. To celebrate what God has done, Chad has decided to run in a 1/2 marathon in Miami on January 28, 2008. This race is a fundraiser for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. He will be running in honor of a 7th grade boy in our church who was diagnosed with Crohn's last year. Chad's training blog link is on my sidebar you can go there and read about his training. (If you would like to make a donation, there is a link on his page to his fundraising page and all the information you need is there.)

Please pray for Chad as he trains and for this young man he's running in honor of. Pray that Chad will remain healthy and will be an encouragement to the young man God has brought into our life.