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How exactly has the inspiration generated by the Campaign's supporters impacted the Campaign itself? Let Gideon explain how:

Composed by Gideon Sofer: May, 2001

Every since I started telling people about my dreams, I've always gotten an overwhelming amount of encouragement and respect. Whether it was a friend, a nurse, or a stranger, they've always been interested in my perspective of how to change the world for the better. After reading countless books and publications about Crohn's, I knew there was, one thing that always stood out about me: I had Crohn's disease. Many of the authors of the books out there on IBD can write about IBD, but in no offense to them, they just don't know what it feels like to have IBD. With that, I knew that I had something special in me. I had the strength to take on a disease, and the motivation to figure out a way to finding that cure for the illness.

But it wasn't about me most of the time. I always was used to looking down on the scale, appreciating where I was at. At least I got to leave the hospital when I got to. It didn't matter if I came, went, 2, 3, 10, times...it just didn't matter. I came out of the hospital, and that's all that mattered to me. There were kids just like me, maybe not with IBD, whom I had an incredible amount of respect for, that never left the hospital and died. May God be with them.

My attitude towards my situation was precisely this: I had a chronic illness, yes. But I did have the capacity to do something about it. And as long as I am able-and alive to do so, that is exactly what I intend to do. Not (just) for me, but for the millions of people in the same position as I am. I hope to do whatever it takes to strengthen the IBD community through awareness, increasing funding & research to find a cause & cure, and speaking out against injustices which I (and other people with disabilities) come across as our lives progress. The thing I truly admire most about many of the supporters for the Campaign aren't just interested in throwing their hand out for a high five. They like to chat a bit and really know "what's going on." That is exactly why I chose Marvin Gaye's quote, "Come talk to me...so you can see what's going on" for our advocacy section. Come talk to us, the people with IBD, so you can see what's going on.

You know I was going through the first batch of signatures to prepare them to be sent to the Postal Service the other night, and I can't verbally explain how inspired I felt to literally see countless pages of signatures right there in front of my eyes. Twenty-five signatures here, 25 more there, totaling approximately an enormous two thousand. I looked back on the year since the Campaign started, and I said to myself: "...and there's only on group of people to thank: my supporters."

An anonymous supporter educating himself on IBD & the IBDSC.

Although I truly did not mean for this to be a thank you page, I guess that's what you can call it. It's really a page to show that no effort such as this can be done without the incredible support from pro-active people such as yourselves. Without the support from the thousands of you from around the world, the Campaign would honestly would not be here right now.

I can't verbally explain how it feels to withstand some of the things included in the "IBD package." There's the ups, downs, and everything in between. There's getting a letter from federal legislators to explain that they want to help you out. There's also being admitted to the hospital for pneumonia for a month while nearly entering the ICU (intensive care unit). Then there are the plateau days (healthwise) where I am somewhat stable, and signatures won't stop coming in, and neither will the comments.

Comments expressing thanks, gratitude, hope, blessing, you name it. I'll tell you, it's not easy picking up your life where it last left off a few months back several times a year. But the support for the Campaign has literally made it all the easier.

If I were to come back from the hospital and possibly start worrying about work, or possibly getting sick again, there's always been the support there to say "Hey Gideon, keep pushing for that stamp, and don't stop until you get it." I intend to do just that, and so much more.

Thank you all so much for your support, and if you do email me, I will do my best to respond. As Michael J. Fox put it--people with adversities "have a sack of hammers on their back." I willing to carry them everywhere, but they do slow me down from time to time (even though it may not seem like it)...so please be patient.

For those of you who are new to the Campaign, I want you to know that the future of this fight is in your hands as well. If your reading this page right now, just take a moment to a) visit our action center and sign the proposal, and b) tell all of your friends and family about our website and ask that they pay a visit as well--that's all we ask!

I am so grateful to be directing such a wonderful Campaign with such incomparable and loving supporters. My gratitude is sky-high.

With superb health, happiness, and love,

Gideon J. Sofer, Founder & Director

IBD Stamp Campaign

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