Growing up, I always had a passion for football and my dream was to play in the NFL. With a lot of hard work and dedication throughout high school, I was voted Minnesota’s Mr. Football and I received multiple Division 1 football scholarship offers. I was on my way to reaching my goal…
After fighting through the head injury, I began practicing and working out with the Minnesota Gophers. With hard work and determination I morphed into a 235 pound Linebacker and was ready to contribute and help the Gophers win. Again, I thought I was back on track to reach my ultimate goal, the NFL.
My journey has been filled with many challenges, however each challenge brings new opportunities. Battling ulcerative colitis introduced me to some phenomenal doctors along with a therapy known as Fecal Microbiota Transplantation. Personally benefiting from this therapy, I spotted an opportunity and founded this non-profit with one goal in mind; to support research that will help find cures. I believe that God has a plan and by fighting through the dark days, I have a burning passion to help others who are suffering.
Tackling this challenge is my next endeavor and Achieving Cures Together invites you to join me in this journey to help find cures!
In March, 2011, while hiking in the Grand Canyon I was struck in the head by a falling boulder. I nearly died that day, and I suffered a severe concussion and a skull fracture. That accident almost ended my football career, however I battled through this challenge and stayed focused on my football.
At the beginning of my sophomore football season, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, chronic inflammation in the large intestine. With symptoms of bloody stools and frequent diarrhea my disease steadily worsened and was soon classified as “severe”. I had to move home from college and spent a year and a half battling this disease everyday. I tried every type of drug and treatment, however nothing controlled my symptoms.
This disease took me from a 235 pound Division 1 football player to 148 pounds and barely able to move. With 30+ bowel movements a day, severe abdominal pain, and lacking the ability to eat or sleep, these were some dark days. This struggle to stay alive sparked a “one day at a time” mentality which I still live by today.
On March 21, I underwent surgery to remove my entire large intestine. From there, I lived with an ileostomy for 9 months and had two further surgeries to re-connect my digestive tract and enable me to pass stool normally today.
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Achieving Cures Together
1650 West End Blvd
Suite 100
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
