The short story: It began with intense joint and muscle pain and went through a gambit of tests. They found I had adult celiac and thought it was over. The joint and muscle pain continued and had abdominal pain which I thought was appendicitis. During my CT scan they found vasculitis in my aorta and had me rush to the ER. After a few days in the hospital and being put on large amount of prednisone, I was sent to my rheumatologist. After diagnosis I started on four weeks of Rituxan and then to follow up with an infusion every 6 months. I’m currently on Rituxan and Bactrim (3x per week). I am extremely sensitive to medications and have had to be cautious about anything I take. My wife and I may both post and ask questions. We will try to be sure to identify who is posting.


I am so thankful for all of the people who have helped and said prayers for me. Especially those that did not know me personally. I have been humbled by all of it and hope that I can make a difference with my life. I found a quote that has helped me tremendously throughout this journey and thought it would be worth sharing.


"The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God."

St. Frances de Sales