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trinaseligman

Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 29, 2015 - 10:46pm PT
Dear SuperTopo and Climbers,
Below please find a letter that I have been sending out to friends and family. Please take a moment and let me know if there is any way that you can assist ? Even going on FaceBook to share the story will help.
Thank-you.
Dear Friends & Family


On a hot summer day, Yosemite Valley temperatures can reach 95 degrees. But if you’re hanging by a rope from the Leaning Tower, with an average 110-degree overhang, the wind howls through your ears and the cool air pierces your skin. On an aid pitch you can hang from the belay for hours without contact with your climbing partner; a tug on the rope and the familiar “off belay” bring you back to the job at hand. The next 3 days, we live on the wall.

In June 2015, that job will be climbing the Leaning Tower to raise research money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

I am a naturopathic doctor, a patient with ulcerative colitis and I love to climb. Today I’m asking you to sponsor me as I Climb to Cure Crohn’s and Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). They are autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks the bowel, causing abdominal pain, diarrhea and bleeding. Medications may reduce symptoms, but there is no cure.

At age 15 I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which caused my immune system to attack my colon, resulting in severe and prolonged bloody diarrhea. My condition required hospitalization and multiple blood transfusions. Between the ages of 15 and 18, I spent several months each year in the hospital. Ultimately my large intestine had to be removed. After two surgeries and several months of recovery, I became healthier and returned to a more normal weight and manageable way of life.

I continue to be treated for IBD there is no cure. In addition to symptoms in the bowel, IBD may cause arthritis, fatigue and in my own case pulmonary disease (chronic bronchiolitis). My immune system, no longer able to attack my colon, creates inflammation in my respiratory tract; it’s like having chronic pneumonia that treatments can only manage, but not cure.

Thanks to research, there have been many great advances in drug therapy, but there are still complications. It is my hope that one day research will find a true CURE for this disease. I would appreciate your support through sponsorship of my Climb to Cure Crohn's & Colitis today. Your sponsorship of the climb is 100% tax deductible through the CCFA and will support research that will benefit the over 1.4 million Americans who suffer with IBD.

Thank you for sharing in my journey,

To donate see: www.c4now.org

For updates on the climb see: www.facebook.com/C4now
**
Never, Never, Never Give Up,
Sincerely, Trina Seligman, N.D.
John M

climber
Jan 30, 2015 - 08:23am PT
I continue to be treated for IBD there is no cure. In addition to symptoms in the bowel, IBD may cause arthritis, fatigue and in my own case pulmonary disease (chronic bronchiolitis). My immune system, no longer able to attack my colon, creates inflammation in my respiratory tract; it’s like having chronic pneumonia that treatments can only manage, but not cure.

huh.. I didn't know that IBD could cause those issues. I was diagnosed with it in my late 20s. I did not have my colon removed though that was recommended to me. I do have ongoing problems with fatigue, with arthritic like symptoms, and with lung issues. I have had pneumonia more then 20 times. I lost count of the number of times. I stopped going to doctors about most of these issues because I just got tired of it. A few years ago in Yosemite I met a research doctor from Canada who was working on the theory that IBD is caused by a virus.

Thanks for the information and Good luck with your climb and fund raiser.
LearningTrad

Trad climber
Jan 30, 2015 - 08:36am PT
My friend has crohn's AND diabetes. Just had 2 feet of intestine removed. He's working his way through the seven summits, Denali is next in May, I think.
trinaseligman

Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 30, 2015 - 08:23pm PT
Thanks for taking the time to read through the letter, appreciate it.
If you can "like" or "share" my facebook page that may also help me to connect with others with IBD or people that may help me to promote the climb and thus raise money for research.
Thanks so much,
Trina
shiro16

climber
Feb 9, 2015 - 07:16pm PT
Bump.

Out of curiosity, do you get to lead climb at all?
tinker b

climber
the commonwealth
Jun 3, 2015 - 10:09am PT
bump since tom reports that she is on leaning tower now.
Jan

Mountain climber
Colorado, Nepal & Okinawa
Jun 3, 2015 - 10:16am PT
Good luck Trina! I have had my share of intestinal problems thanks to tropical parasites which have in turn set off months long bouts of inflammatory bowel problems. Nothing is so debilitating. I used to say with amoebas, when you are so depressed you just want to kill yourself and get it over with but you don't have the strength to open a window so you can jump out, you know they're back. I can imagine it is the same with Crohn's and IBD. My greatest respect for your ability to pick up and carry on.
Studly

Trad climber
WA
Jun 3, 2015 - 10:26am PT
Climbing the Leaning Tower will empty your bowels. Bring a poop tube. Nothing better then waking up on the Ahwahnee, having a nice cup of Hood River coffee, and laying some cable.
Messages 1 - 8 of total 8 in this topic
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