Meet our 2010 Honored Hero!
CCFA’s mission is to cure Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. A true inspiration to others living with Crohn’s or colitis, Raquel, the 2010 National Honored Hero, is truly leading by example. She’s helping CCFA reach its mission by spreading the word to "be heard" -- and she’s only 15 years old!
Raquel's Story:
The story of my life, and living with ulcerative colitis (UC), began in the weeks leading up to my sixth birthday. Things would never be the same. Hospitalizations, learning how to swallow pills, weekly blood work, and frequent medical appointments charted the new undiscovered territory and redefined a new lifestyle for me and my family. I am now turning fourteen and I am an eighth-grade student in middle school. I have been coping with UC for the past nine years. To date, I have had a few severe bouts, which landed me in the hospital for weeks at a time. I have had to deal with issues that most 14-year-olds and the millions of others who suffer with IBD should never experience. For this reason, we must find a cure for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and with research, modern technology, and funding this will be a reality.
Without a doubt, when a person is diagnosed with a disease it affects everyone in their midst. It is said that one is never given a challenge that they cannot handle, and that adversity builds character. Although I did not ask for this disease, and clearly would rather not have it, I recognize that the blessings of an opportunity are in my hands. I accept this gift, knowing that I can make things better for others.
Last week, my Language Arts teacher, Mrs. P., gave our class a series of inspirational quotes and there was one that struck me to the core. I would like to share them and hope they inspire you as well. Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." With social responsibility and character, we one by one shape our world. Please join me in my cause, and the cause of the millions who suffer with IBD to raise the needed funds for research and find the cure!
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