a heart full of gratitiude

[Guest guest]

Hey everyone,

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, friendship, and

stories with me. I have enjoyed being a part of this

group. I feel bad that it has taken me this long to

find it. I have had the disease for over eleven years

now, over half of my life, and it is about time there

is a support group. I also wanted to thank all of

those who welcomed me home from the hospital this last

stay.

My last hospital stay was very difficult for me. I

only had two visitors the whole week: my husband and

my mother. And even they stayed for less than four

hours total, combined.

Tomorrow I begin a new semester at school. Wish me

luck. I might not be able to read or respond to posts

as often as I would like, but I will try to keep in

touch. I have never been at school during the first

or finals week. I have always been in the hospital

during the first and final weeks of school. I am

excited to actually make the first day of classes. It

is weird to think that it is time for school again.

Starting school also means the beginning of

cross-country and track practice. I missed practice

last week because of being in the hospital, but I hope

to make practice and all of the races, at least until

conference. I have always qualified for conference,

but never ran it because of stress-fractures or

pancreatitis. It is going to be hard, but I am going

to accomplish my goals. I will not let this disease

control my life! I am going to be in charge of me! I

will win the battle! I have ran with pancreatitis and

medalled at state in high school during a panc. flare

up. I know college is not the same, I have run on the

team at ISU since 1999.

I only have two more years of elegibility with the

NCAA. In a way I want to perform specatacularly this

season to bring attention from the media to our

disease. I know that this probably won't bring huge

attention to our illness, but at least I can educate

the locals here about pancreatitis.

Thanks again,

Crystal Galloway

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