Team Intestinal Fortitude

08/03/2024

Crohns and Colitis do not define who Katie Ledecky is. Olympic Medalist-True guts and intestinal fortitude and most importantly, a wonderful role model.
Olympic Swimmer Kathleen Baker, Who Just Scored Her First Medal, Talks About Life With Crohn’s Disease | SELF

The inspiring U.S. swimmer just earned her first Olympic medal in the 100 meter backstroke.

03/17/2024

Public Service Announcement-Colonoscopies and colorectal cancer. "Don't be a big shot, get a colonoscopy."
"According to data from the CDC and other sources, it's estimated that millions of Americans are not up to date with their recommended colorectal cancer screenings. The specific number of people who do not get colonoscopies annually can fluctuate based on various factors, including changes in healthcare policies, public health campaigns, and advancements in screening technologies."
Being an overachiever, I prep today for my 35th colonoscopy. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at age 13 in 1967 and the colonoscopy was not invented until 1969 so I was one of the first to have the procedure in Massachusetts. I think I read that 25 million people do not get the screening because of fear and anxiety. But there is a correlation between Crohns and colorectal cancer and all should get the screening by age 40 or 45 or 50 at the latest since colorectal cancer is a silent killer...until it is not. While those with Crohns and ulcerative colitis must get this procedure at an earlier age, start asking your doctor no matter how healthy you are by the time you are 40 and earlier if you have a family history of colon cancer. As with all things, our health insurance system dictates at what age they will cover the procedure. The fast and prep today are the tough part. The procedure tomorrow is not bad at all. I know this is TMI but that is what I do and you can't teach this old dog new tricks.

02/20/2024

"Don't wish it were easier; wish you were better.
Don't wish for less problems; wish for more skills.
Don't wish for less challenge' wish for more wisdom."-Darren Hardy
as stated by Chip Merlin in Property Insurance Coverage Law.

"Nobody ever said life would be easy;
they just said it would be worth it."-Unknown

Employee #8
I make baskets.

(80) Antoine Walker - Employee No. 8 Adidas Commercial (1998) - YouTube

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

04/04/2022

Crohns and Colitis 2016-DJ Howe- Team intestinal Foritude Man of the Year. He has been brave and courageous but Crohns is no match for him.

Team Intestinal Fortitude-Crohns and Colitis event with Jake Marcus and Man of the Year DJ Howe

12/18/2020

Crohn’s Disease and colitis-Have you or someone you know ever been denied access to a restroom despite having IBD, IBS, or another condition protected under “Ally’s Law”/the Restroom Access Act and “Catie’s Law” in Massachusetts? I want to hear your stories. Across the country, including in states that enacted some form of the legislation, people continue to be denied access to restrooms. While people share their stories on different platforms and in different circles, collecting our stories will make our voices and advocacy that much stronger. If you, or someone you know, is comfortable sharing a time when you were denied access to a restroom (in any state, whether or not that state has restroom access legislation), please comment below, send a private message, or email us at [email protected]. The idea is to share our stories, both good and bad, more widely with media outlets and public figures to spread more awareness about the need for restroom access.
These 17 states have passed The Restroom Access Law for persons with Crohn’s Disease and colitis and other conditions requiring urgent use of a restroom::
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Illinois
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Tennessee
Texas
Washington State
Wisconsin

12/16/2020

Crohn’s Disease and colitis-Have you or someone you know ever been denied access to a restroom despite having IBD, IBS, or another condition protected under “Ally’s Law”/the Restroom Access Act and “Catie’s Law” in Massachusetts? We want to hear your stories. Across the country, including in states that enacted some form of the legislation, people continue to be denied access to restrooms. While people share their stories on different platforms and in different circles, collecting our stories will make our voices and advocacy that much stronger. If you, or someone you know, is comfortable sharing a time when you were denied access to a restroom (in any state, whether or not that state has restroom access legislation), please comment below, send a private message, or email me at [email protected] The idea is to share our stories more widely with media outlets and public figures to spread more awareness about the need for restroom access. We also want to hear stories of stores that have permitted you access to their restrooms.
The following states have passed the Restroom Access Law for persons with Crohn’s Disease and colitis and other conditions requiring urgent and unexpected access to restrooms.
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Illinois
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Tennessee
Texas
Washington State
Wisconsin

11/30/2020

A Large Proportion of IBD Patients May Experience a Form of PTSD
https://www.hcplive.com/view/ibd-patients-experience-ptsd
TIF notes that this was a mall study of a little over 300 patients.

Inflammatory bowel disease patients were surveyed about their remission or flare-up status, as well as their expectations for a flare-up over the next 2 months.

11/29/2020

Restroom access law and Crohn’s Disease and Colitis.. During Crohns and Colitis Awareness Week December 1-7, 2020, it is important to note that “Ally’s Law” aka “Catie’s Law in Massachusetts is the law in the following SEVENTEEN (1&)states where stores must permit access to restrooms and private restroom in store, coffee shops, stores in malls, etc.
Crohn’s Disease and Colitis often include symptoms requiring the urgent need to use restrooms so is critical the law is followed for teens, preteens, 20 somethings and other adults with one of the diseases.
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Illinois
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Tennessee
Texas
Washington State
Wisconsin

For a free Restroom Access Card, email [email protected] at Team Intestinal Fortitude.

We would also like to hear stories about stores that have permitted you access and those that have not.

11/19/2020

• Crohn’s Disease and Colitis-As we approach Crohns and Colitis Awareness Week December 1-7, 2020, Starbucks on November 5, 2020 updated its Covid-19 policies of March 17, 2020 relating to restrooms and Crohn’s Disease and colitis and Covid-19. All restrooms at Starbucks are now closed again except for uniformed first responders and those protected in 17 states including Massachusetts by “Ally’s Law”, the restroom access law for persons with Crohn's Disease or colitis. Note that in Massachusetts, the restroom access law for person with Crohn’s and colitis is known as “Catie’s Law” for the brave then teen whose dad wrote and introduced the legislation in Massachusetts which passed in 2012. We applaud Starbucks for permitting all with Crohn's Disease and colitis to use their private restrooms during Covid-19 while they are closed to the rest o the public.