The Ugly Truth About Crohn’s

For the past four years, Ostiningo Park in Binghamton has been host for the Take Steps For Crohn’s and Colitis Walk. Crohn’s disease, along with various other inflammatory bowel diseases, affects as many as 1.4 million Americans.

Living With Crohn’s

21-year old Zack Walsh has to deal with all of the typical college responsibilities, plus another major responsibility, Crohn’s disease.

Zack, who was diagnosed at the age of “lucky 13”, “knew something was up because I was going to the bathroom more than usual,” he explained. “I lost a lot of weight and really was not eating that much. When I finally went to the doctor, they said you are either starving yourself or something is wrong, and I knew I wasn’t starving myself.”

He has been able to remain positive through the negative experiences with the help of “my faith and the belief that everything happens for a reason.”

His best memory of the disease is “recently getting good blood work back showing that my medicine was finally working.” Although things may be good for him now, they were not always this way. Describing his overall experience with the disease as “challenging,” his worst memory “would be closing my door and breaking down so that no one could see.”

Aside from just Zack being affected by this disease, his family and the people important to him were impacted as well. “Personally, I was lucky enough to find somebody who is more than accepting when it comes to it and who wants to help make me feel better and all that. At first, it is hard to open up to somebody about this because it is so personal, but when you find somebody who loves you no matter what, they make it easy.”

Encouraging Others

“This disease has changed me for the better,” Zack explained. “It forced me to grow up at a young age so I was more mentally mature and mentally strong. It has taught me not to sweat the small stuff, and appreciate the little things and everything.”

Zack wants people who are newly diagnosed to know “there is a positive side to this diagnosis, and you just have to view it with a positive attitude. You meet other people with it and share stories and realize you are not alone. There are people out there like you.”

How You Can Help

Zack and his entire family wish to bring awareness to the disease, and one special way they do that is through the Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk. What all started with a donation and a simple phone call, his mom, Mary Beth, along with the help of Townsquare Media Binghamton, was able to bring the walk to our area.

The walk is scheduled to take place this year on Saturday, June 13. You can sign up to join the walk or donate here.

*This article was written by Danielle Ogozaly, a Townsquare Media Binghamton intern and St. Bonaventure University Senior*