My relationship with Crohn's disease

Los Angeles - California

Picture: Yoselyn Molina

It all started when I started dating Eddy, who is currently my fiancé. Eddy has been living with this disease for 22 years.

Crohn's disease is a chronic condition, that is, it can occur several times throughout life. Some people go through long periods of remission, which can be years. However, there is no way to predict when this period of remission will begin or when the symptoms will return (American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, 2018).

For two years, Eddy and I have been together and it was a year ago that we got engaged. If I am honest, adapting to the idea of being with someone who has this disease has not been easy and, even so, I feel that being with him, I have been able to find the purpose of my life, because I feel able to help him and be his partner in this battle.

The unpredictability of this condition frustrated me many times. Just as the person can feel very well, the symptoms come without warnings. At first, he could not understand how little he ate, just because his stomach ached, he did not understand the intensity of his pain or why so many medications. Sometimes he felt tired and I went into depression adding my jealous girlfriend claims that did not help at all.

I decided to investigate on my own. I found two groups on Facebook that have helped me more than I expected: "Crohn's Disease (Spain)" and "Crohn's Disease Support Group (Women Only)". Thanks to those groups I could understand Eddy and I could see that I have an angel of a boyfriend. This is how I label those people with this disease who, in spite of all the pain, operations and medications, continue to fight. Despite so much suffering, they are still willing to love.

I was very surprised when my fiancé's mother told me that, since she met me, she only hopes to be healed and has found a hope to continue with her life. This impelled me to help, not only Eddy, but also anyone who feels bad for health reasons, acting as a factor of encouragement and motivation.

Currently, my lover is waiting for his second operation to stop using the ostomy pouch (which helps to deal a little with this condition). It has not been easy for him or me to be in this situation, but thank God I have been able to meet two people who have been with me helping me to understand the process better. Pedro Hernández and Miriam, from Mexico. I hope, one day, to meet you in person to thank you for all the support.

Although, we maintain a remote relationship with Eddy, I feel very close to him. I do not know how his pain really is, but I can feel his suffering when all that is left is to cry with nothing else to do.

Now we have faith in the treatment of stem cells, but we are seriously thinking about submitting to natural medicine, and although there is still no cure for my "Little Angels", many people have had very good results by maintaining a balanced diet of five meals daily, exercise or yoga to help reduce stress or use aloe vera for inflammation. Needless to say, giving them love, motivates these people to be filled with hope to continue fighting.

Like everyone, I live with the clear idea that everything can change tomorrow. Until that happens, I enjoy my relationship with Eddy and we both have faith that we will find the cure to overcome this disease. For now, it is the life that we had to live and we try to do it in the best way.

For my part, I am ready to say YES in front of God and my family and commit myself to a beautiful and hopeful future with him.