My son looking over a lake in Colorado on his hiking trip
This post is long overdue.
But I wanted to wait until after Thanksgiving to write it, in the hopes that I could pass on good news about my son.
With ulcerative colitis one doesn't want to assume anything, but the fact is that he was able to go on a two week hiking vacation with a good friend in August.
Together with his dog, he took a Canon camera with him and came home with amazing photos of his journey through the mountains.
But I wanted to wait until after Thanksgiving to write it, in the hopes that I could pass on good news about my son.
With ulcerative colitis one doesn't want to assume anything, but the fact is that he was able to go on a two week hiking vacation with a good friend in August.
Together with his dog, he took a Canon camera with him and came home with amazing photos of his journey through the mountains.
My son's dog posing with the Rockies in the background
Trials & Tribulations
On their first stop, he discovered that his supplements had become soaked with water and were unusable. They were stored in a box attached to the back of his friend's Jeep, as their two dogs took up most of the space in the rear, and the pouring rain had seeped in.
So he had to pick up whatever he could at a local CVS and hope they would keep him going.
Needless to say his mother was quietly freaking out at home when she heard this news!
They were in the middle of nowhere, pitching tents in the open and hoping no animals - bears, in particular - would come in the night to take their food, their dogs or them.
My son's black lab Collie mix preferred to sleep outside, but that didn't suit her owner: he called her back in every night.
Due to the high altitude, the damp and the cold, both adventurers suffered digestive difficulties.There were times of stomach aches, diarrhea and discomfort, but miraculously my son didn't flare. He was careful to eat only what he knew was safe and didn't take any risks as he had done in the past.
On their first stop, he discovered that his supplements had become soaked with water and were unusable. They were stored in a box attached to the back of his friend's Jeep, as their two dogs took up most of the space in the rear, and the pouring rain had seeped in.
So he had to pick up whatever he could at a local CVS and hope they would keep him going.
Needless to say his mother was quietly freaking out at home when she heard this news!
They were in the middle of nowhere, pitching tents in the open and hoping no animals - bears, in particular - would come in the night to take their food, their dogs or them.
My son's black lab Collie mix preferred to sleep outside, but that didn't suit her owner: he called her back in every night.
Due to the high altitude, the damp and the cold, both adventurers suffered digestive difficulties.There were times of stomach aches, diarrhea and discomfort, but miraculously my son didn't flare. He was careful to eat only what he knew was safe and didn't take any risks as he had done in the past.
Hiking dog par excellence
Giving Thanks
The two high school buddies had a wonderful trip. They knew this might be their last opportunity to spend quality time together before life got more serious.
When he got back from this trip my son found out that he had passed the last of his CPA exams. With a bit more paperwork and an ethics test to get through, he received his certificate and is now a bona fide Certified Public Accountant.
In addition to this, for the first time in THREE YEARS, he celebrated Thanksgiving without flaring! I had been praying and praying for this.
He has now accepted a job in Chicago and is set to start a new life in that big city.
I am so grateful to God!
Take Heart
As we go into the Christmas season, my son has to make sure he doesn't let the Chicago cold get to him. He has just bought a car with a heated steering wheel and heated seats, which should ease his commute to clients.
I sincerely hope that anyone with UC who is reading this takes heart at the knowledge that proper diet is the key to staying in remission. You don't have to be on drugs to keep healthy.
God bless and I'll be posting again after Christmas if not before.
Related Articles:
- St. Jude & Ulcerative Colitis
- Ulcerative Colitis: Stabat Mater Dolorosa
- Ulcerative Colitis: A Natural Approach
- One Man's Ulcerative Colitis Diet
- A Different Kind of Milk
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