I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2011. After IVF, a very complicated pregnancy and a turbulent delivery of my premature Son, I found myself in an irrecoverable flare. When he was just six months old, I was taken to surgery for an emergency subtotal colectomy.
Following 21 days of fighting for my life, I was left with an ileostomy, but I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to be a Mummy. One year later, I hit another stumbling block when I developed enteropathic inflammatory arthritis and found myself unable to walk due to chronically inflamed joints.
Potty training an 18 month old whilst in a wheelchair was not great fun but I navigated my way through twelve months of excruciating pain until I found my wonder drug, Imraldi and achieved partial remission.
Lorna
Living with Ulcerative Colitis
In October 2022, my dear Dad called me and emotionally told me that he’d been made Club Captain of Burford Golf Club and that he had chosen Crohn’s & Colitis UK as his charity to support for his term in office. It was the first time that we had really talked about his fears, as he watched me struggle to deal with the condition. He felt completely helpless.
Sadly my Dad died, very suddenly and unexpectedly just a few short months later in February 2023. Losing him has been the hardest thing that I’ve ever had to deal with. Burford Golf Club allowed my Dad’s year as club Captain to continue with the support of his predecessor, Terry Merriman and Vice Captain, Jeremy Stubbings. I knew then that I needed to do all that I could to help ensure that my Dad’s fundraising still went ahead.
During that time, we've engaged in various fundraising activities. We held a collection at Dad’s funeral and set up a Tribute page in his memory, allowing people to donate online. During Dad's year as Captain, he organised golfing events, including the 77-hole challenge, which my husband, Daniel, completed in Dad's absence. My friends and I participated in the Crohn’s & Colitis UK Winter Workout, exercising for 31 minutes every day in January. Daniel also recently completed a half marathon.
It’s really been a team effort and the support of the golf club, friends and family has been heartwarming. Crohn’s & Colitis UK is a charity very close to my heart, and I am thrilled that we've raised £22,864.50. I know my Dad would be delighted too.
Would you like to fundraise in-memory of a loved one?
Whether it be setting up a regular gift, organising your own special event, taking part in running or cycling events, or including a gift in your Will, supporting Crohn's & Colitis UK in memory of a loved on is a very special way to remember them. By honouring their memory and supporting a charity that was close to them during their lifetime, you are helping transform lives today and make our vision of a world free from Crohn’s and Colitis possible.
If you would like to share your story with us as a way to remember and honour your loved one's life, you can do so by using our share your story form.
If you feel you need someone to talk to, for additional bereavement support you can contact Cruse, the UK’s leading bereavement charity. More information can be found on their website at https://www.cruse.org.uk or you can call their Helpline on 0808 808 1677.
