MONROE - One Monroe woman is finding a deeper connection to her well-being through her time spent completing half-marathons.
Whitney Driver, 27, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 15 and has struggled with the condition since. In adolescence and through college, it was a secondary priority because she had struggled with a variety of symptoms before the doctors' official prognosis in 2003.
"I don't think it really sank in," Driver said. "When they told me, I thought it was like my asthma; it was just there."
Unfortunately, the ailment Driver inherited from her father is part of a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases. These can cause serious illness if not treated correctly. Inflammation of the digestive system because of Crohn's affects the entire body. Driver is one of nearly 700,000 people in the United States with the condition.
With undergraduate classes taking up time and the hope to avoid stigma due to her disease, Driver admits she did not take proper care of herself in her youth. Medications prescribed had side effects and it was easier to avoid them. She had a specialized team in Madison and was attempting to get on track when she eventually ended up in the hospital in September 2013. Driver had a perforated bowel. She was septic and in the internal care unit. Surgery was necessary and a foot of her small bowel was removed. She spent two weeks in the hospital and then another four recuperating at home. Once the scare was over, Driver was changed.
"After I had gone back to work, I really started focusing on taking my disease seriously," Driver said.
Now, the social worker has been taking part in team challenges with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Groups of people suffering from similar afflictions work toward the common goal of running races while bringing awareness of gastrointestinal maladies to the forefront. Training for the challenges also gathers vital fundraising for the foundation to continue research into curing Crohn's disease. Through a mutual friend, Driver found a support system and just recently completed her second half-marathon in Las Vegas. The first was in West Palm Beach, Fla.
"I've met a lot of really cool people who are just like me," Driver said.
Running 13.1 miles is no small feat for the average fit person, but for someone suffering with a struggling immune system and chronic fatigue, it can seem like an impossible challenge.
"My first goal was "I just want to accomplish it,'" Driver said. "I always want to keep challenging myself."
Friend and fellow runner Kelly Crabb joined Driver for their first dual half-marathon in Las Vegas. The pair met through the team challenge supporting the CCFA and finished the race side by side. Crabb, who described herself as an advocate for years, said she was glad to see Driver become a more engaged proponent for awareness of IBDs.
"It's really been a lot of fun to see her grow as a person and to see her realization in advocacy," Crabb said. "Just seeing somebody grow into their own skin and to build confidence as an advocate is pretty spectacular."
Crabb is just one of the people Driver has met along her journey to spread awareness of a disease she deals with daily. Health is Driver's goal, and she said she will be happy to train, even fatigued, as long as she is able.
"I want to run for the people who can't," Driver said. "I think it helps me."
Through the group events, Crabb said her friend has been able to be more vocal about their shared ailments, something she had been hesitant to do in the past. Crabb has seen Driver speak to large groups, and Driver admits to having social media flourishing with information regarding IBDs.
"Just seeing her personally grow has been great," Crabb said. "I've seen her find a lot of self-confidence."
Once graduate classes are finished, Driver knows she can focus more energy into training even though she said she may be considering pursuing a doctorate. Her next goal is to run a half-marathon for CCFA in Chicago in July.
Whitney Driver, 27, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at 15 and has struggled with the condition since. In adolescence and through college, it was a secondary priority because she had struggled with a variety of symptoms before the doctors' official prognosis in 2003.
"I don't think it really sank in," Driver said. "When they told me, I thought it was like my asthma; it was just there."
Unfortunately, the ailment Driver inherited from her father is part of a group of conditions known as inflammatory bowel diseases. These can cause serious illness if not treated correctly. Inflammation of the digestive system because of Crohn's affects the entire body. Driver is one of nearly 700,000 people in the United States with the condition.
With undergraduate classes taking up time and the hope to avoid stigma due to her disease, Driver admits she did not take proper care of herself in her youth. Medications prescribed had side effects and it was easier to avoid them. She had a specialized team in Madison and was attempting to get on track when she eventually ended up in the hospital in September 2013. Driver had a perforated bowel. She was septic and in the internal care unit. Surgery was necessary and a foot of her small bowel was removed. She spent two weeks in the hospital and then another four recuperating at home. Once the scare was over, Driver was changed.
"After I had gone back to work, I really started focusing on taking my disease seriously," Driver said.
Now, the social worker has been taking part in team challenges with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. Groups of people suffering from similar afflictions work toward the common goal of running races while bringing awareness of gastrointestinal maladies to the forefront. Training for the challenges also gathers vital fundraising for the foundation to continue research into curing Crohn's disease. Through a mutual friend, Driver found a support system and just recently completed her second half-marathon in Las Vegas. The first was in West Palm Beach, Fla.
"I've met a lot of really cool people who are just like me," Driver said.
Running 13.1 miles is no small feat for the average fit person, but for someone suffering with a struggling immune system and chronic fatigue, it can seem like an impossible challenge.
"My first goal was "I just want to accomplish it,'" Driver said. "I always want to keep challenging myself."
Friend and fellow runner Kelly Crabb joined Driver for their first dual half-marathon in Las Vegas. The pair met through the team challenge supporting the CCFA and finished the race side by side. Crabb, who described herself as an advocate for years, said she was glad to see Driver become a more engaged proponent for awareness of IBDs.
"It's really been a lot of fun to see her grow as a person and to see her realization in advocacy," Crabb said. "Just seeing somebody grow into their own skin and to build confidence as an advocate is pretty spectacular."
Crabb is just one of the people Driver has met along her journey to spread awareness of a disease she deals with daily. Health is Driver's goal, and she said she will be happy to train, even fatigued, as long as she is able.
"I want to run for the people who can't," Driver said. "I think it helps me."
Through the group events, Crabb said her friend has been able to be more vocal about their shared ailments, something she had been hesitant to do in the past. Crabb has seen Driver speak to large groups, and Driver admits to having social media flourishing with information regarding IBDs.
"Just seeing her personally grow has been great," Crabb said. "I've seen her find a lot of self-confidence."
Once graduate classes are finished, Driver knows she can focus more energy into training even though she said she may be considering pursuing a doctorate. Her next goal is to run a half-marathon for CCFA in Chicago in July.
