This battle is personal. I've been a Warrior to the cause for the past 11 years due to my own Chronic Pancreatitis diagnosis.

Chronic Pancreatitis is incurable, progressive, and for many of us, it means living a life of intractable, unrelenting pain. The result is a severely restricted quality of life, diabetes and digestive issues such as malabsorption and malnutrition.

Thanks to research funded by the National Pancreas Foundation and other organizations, I was able to have a groundbreaking operation done in 2011 called a total pancreatectomy and islet cell auto transplant.

My 10-hour surgery - where they removed my pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, duodenum, and part of my stomach, then put me back together again a la Humpty Dumpty - gave me the chance to live again without severe, debilitating pain and the very real concern of developing pancreatic cancer.

During the surgery, the islet cells from my pancreas were transplanted into my liver to increase the chances I wouldn't become a brittle diabetic, and although I do have diabetes, it's largely controllable with insulin. The recovery took a FULL year and wasn't a cure, and I continue to deal with significant medical challenges as a result of Chronic Pancreatitis.

In honor of children battling pancreatic disease, and The Pancreas Care Center at Cincinnati's Children's Hospital Medical Center, I've set a lofty goal to raise $5,000, but I need your help.

To contribute, please select the "Give Now" button on the top right hand side of my webpage.

Your tax deductible contribution will help raise awareness and the funds necessary to strike out pancreatic diseases for good. No amount is too small. No effort too insignificant. Everything you do matters and I thank you so much for your support.