⚡ CFB Dashboard

As someone who has dealt with Crohn’s disease for close to 35 years now, had 8' of intestine removed (my guts were famous for a decade or more because the video of my surgery was used in medical classes at UAB), was transfused twice because I damn near bled out, or "in" more appropriately (internal and external bleeding is no fun), started out when I was diagnosed before there were actual drugs to treat Crohn's (32 Sulfasalazine pills a day and massive doses of steroids was the extent of treatment), lost nearly 150lbs over less than 9 months, spent literally days in a fetal position because any movement was like being stabbed in the gut and yet the constant pressure in my gut felt like someone had blown my insides up with a bicycle pump, and, I couldn't eat or drink anything for days at a time without throwing it up within ten minutes. That went on for over two years. The first year was the worst because I was convinced I was dying of cancer and was scared to go to a doctor and have that confirmed. I went home on Christmas break and members of my own family walked by me because they didn't recognize me. My uncle pulled me aside and asked if I had AIDS. I started the year as a 6'6", 325lb (former) OL and 9 months later I was 6'6" 185lbs. When the doctor's at UAB's Kirklin Clinic finally operated and removed all 8 feet of that diseased intestine, removed countless polyps, stitched me back together from my ******* to my esophagus, and I woke up surgery, the closest I have ever been able to describe it is rebirth. I had been in so much pain, for so long, that I had forgotten what not being in pain felt like. All of that to say, I completely agree. Medical science and the incredible wisdom of the research physicians (who by the way treated me 100% gratis, including ten days in the hospital, and almost three years of medicine [I was sent a free box of Pentasa sample packs, the new treatment drug, every month from the pharmaceutical company for two years] and follow-up care) at Kirklin saved my life. No religion involved, positive or negative. So yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what saved Alex to - regardless of what anyone says or believes. Although positive vibes and beliefs, wherever you find them, can help because it is a very painful and lonely road to recovery.