Honorees
The Honoree Program is undoubtedly the most important part of the Team Challenge program. The Greater DC/VA chapter is proud to announce Mitchell Reggio and Jacob Landa as our honored teammates.
Mitchell's Story
Mitchell had early challenges in his life. At 3 years old he was diagnosed with Autism. He has spent many years in various therapies to improve his communication and social skills. Fortunately, his sweet personality and even demeanor has made him a well-liked amongst his piers.
The ultimate challenge for Mitchell and his family came in the summer of 2010 with bloody bowl movements. After weeks of blood tests by his pediatrician we were referred to a pediatric GI specialist. Mitchell was diagnosed with colitis in October 2010 after a colonoscopy Fairfax Hospital.
Due to Mitchell’s challenges with Autism he is unable to swallow pills so all of his medication had to be compounded by a special pharmacist. However, medication caused no relief for his symptoms and in November of that year Mitchell was put on steroids.
Mitchell continued to do everything a 9 year old boy did. He went to school, participated in swimming lessons and lived his life. However his symptoms continued and in February of 2011 the head of the Pediatric GI Department at Johns Hopkins recommended a different course of medication. Later that month we took Mitchell to Disney World for a weekend of fun. Yet Mitchell was forced to spend 10-12 times a day in the bathroom. The new medications were not working; Mitchell’s condition was getting worse.
In March Mitchell was rushed to Johns Hopkins for a dangerously low blood count. Mitchell was admitted to the hospital for 10 days. After many diagnostic tests and another colonoscopy we learned that Mitchell’s medication was not working and that his colon was completely inflamed.
In a last ditch effort, Mitchell was put on a new combination of medications. We were told this was our last medical option and if this new medication protocol did not work Mitchell would require surgery to remove his colon.
Luckily the new medication protocol started working and Mitchell right now receives infusions of Remicade every 8 weeks at Johns Hopkins. We do not know how long this will continue but we do know how important the research and work that CCFA is doing will one day lead to a cure of Crohn’s and Colitis if not for Mitchell then for other children just like him effected with these two diseases. Thank you for all of your help and support.
- Gail Reggio, Mitchell's mother
Jacob's Story
On March 1, 2010, I was a straight "A" student and a nationally ranked snowboarder being trained by a former Olympian. I freaked out every time I went to a doctor. I believed that nothing would change any of that. And then March 2nd happened….My name is Jacob Landa. I'm 13 years old. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in May 2011.
Getting back to the story…On March 2nd, three weeks before the snowboarding National Championships and my 12th birthday, I broke my leg. Bad. I had emergency surgery and received 13 screws and 2 plates. The doctor casually mentioned that if he were to guess, there was no way I would be boarding again. Being 11, I thought my life was going to suck. Permanently.
Fast forward to November 2010, I was back at winter sports school in New Hampshire, proving the doctors wrong, despite breaking my foot over the summer. And then it happened again – a simple fracture in my lower leg while skateboarding. By then, my friends were wondering if I had been cursed by an evil witch or something.
Fast forward, again, to January 2011. I’m back in New Hampshire at school, rehabbing there when I got sick. What I didn’t know at that time was that my Crohn’s Disease had decided to suddenly show its true colors. I’m not going to explain how bad Crohn's Disease is, because if you have these diseases, or know someone who does, you know all too well. For three months, I ate almost nothing and lost a lot weight. When I weighed in at school, I was 123 pounds; and when my parents picked me up in April for the National Championships, I weighed 103 pounds. Throughout our three weeks in Colorado for the championships, I was miserable. But think about it! I was sick and hurt and still managed to win the local races to qualify for nationals!! We got home in early April and began the process of doctors and tests. On May 4th, after my colonoscopy and endoscopy, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.
My friends often ask me how I’m not totally wrecked and sad. The answer is simple; I persevered through my diagnosis and was driven by my passion for snow boarding. As a result I stayed in the top 30 in the 14 and under age group for snowboarders in the competitive series and won the recreational championship last year. This year, I am training regularly in Pennsylvania, and I hope to go to Colorado again for the National Championships. And, doctors just don’t scare me anymore – you can play connect-the-dots on my arm!
Crohn’s and Colitis can be so tiring physically, mentally, and emotionally; once you grasp the fact of what these diseases really mean and live through it, you are so much tougher. You are able to live through things that other people still freak out about or are unable to do.
Through my families’ involvement with CCFA, I have met people who have stories similar to mine. My team at the Take Steps DC walk was the largest and raised over $1,500. Last year, my friends had no idea what Crohn’s Disease or UC were. Now, they know what it is, and they know how important the CCFA funded research is, that will one day find a cure for these diseases.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for participating in Team Challenge. Your participation will raise awareness and funds. And, one day, there will be a cure.
- Jacob