I caught up on some reading this past weekend and read an article about Kelly McGregor in ‘Her Sports & Fitness’ and had to share. It is stories like these that make you realize that you can do anything you set your mind to…

Kelly McGregor: A Life of Optimism 

“Keep the focus and always go after what you want.  You can make it through anything as long as you believe.  Based on what I’ve been through, I realize that anything is possible, with guidance and the right people by your side.” 

Living with ulcerative colitis is no easy feat, as 29-year-old Kelly McGregor has discovered over the past six years. When she was 22 years old and was returning from traveling abroad, Kelly found herself acutely ill, with a 103 degree fever and suffering from delusions and severe pain.  Her physicians thought she had picked up salmonella or E. coli while traveling, but the colonoscopy results showed that she had acute chronic ulcerative colitis.  Kelly and her family had never heard of the disease before. 

Kelly was subsequently hospitalized for a week and a half, and had no reaction to the treatments she was given.  She ended up taking many medications, including pain killers, which only masked her symptoms.  Within six months, she lost 40 pounds and was completely unresponsive to the available treatments; in fact, she was starting to feel worse. The doctor threw her hands up in the air and said, “I don’t know what to do with you” and referred her to another physician. 

Kelly was immediately hospitalized by her new doctor for another week while they ran several more intrusive tests. Her doctor said, “There’s one more drug to try.  It takes six months to show any signs of effectiveness, but you’re probably going to lose your colon.” Kelly wasn’t ready to give up.  Five months into the treatment, the doctor told her once again that she was unresponsive to the treatment and had an 84% chance of her colon bursting.  She chose to have a total colectomy, which caused more complications and pain.  In the following year, she was hospitalized 10 times due to complications which necessitated several more surgeries.  In total, Kelly underwent nine surgeries. 

Today, Kelly finally is feeling better - “a world of difference from where I was a few years ago.” She never gave up the hope that she could feel better. As a result of her experience, she wants to give back to help other people who suffer from the disease.  “When I was sick, I had no one to talk to. I didn’t know what the disease was when I got diagnosed. I didn’t understand what it was and didn’t have the information or the support.”  She believes that people don’t understand the physical and emotional distress of the disease unless they’ve been through it and that is why she wants to help others get through the trying times of the illness. 

Kelly is beginning a pre-med program through Bridgeport University and she loves to play sports, hike, travel, read, go to the beach and do yoga.  Her family is very important to her and Kelly can’t wait for the day when she has one of her own.  She is also involved in CCFA and has participated in several Guts & Glory 5K fundraising walks.  She supports CCFA’s mission and feels strongly about educating others to find a cause and a non-intrusive way to cure IBD. Kelly is not only an Honored Teammate - she is also a Team Challenge participant. Kelly will complete both the fundraising and the 13.1 mile run.  When asked why she wants to be a part of Team Challenge, she said, “I have always wanted to give back, and this is a great opportunity to do just that.”