Behcets
Hey guys,
I’m sorry I haven’t posted anything in a while!
Ever since I’ve put up this section and been in a few more publications I have gotten so many emails from others that suffer with this illness and just encouraging letters from others that don’t. It’s overwhelming to say the least!
I’m very proud to say that one of my sponsors, Coca Cola, has volunteered to help the ABDA by sending some cool products to be auctioned off. I can’t explain how much that means to me, and I sincerely hope that we can get more awareness and more help to aid us fight against this terrible disease.
I do believe with adequate resources and knowledge we can conquer Behcets and I plan to do my part to help.
Please feel free to write me at runwithsanya@sanyarichards.net with any specific questions or post on this board anytime.This is our corner…….
Until next time
San
PS My races are on the 16th, 17th and 19th!!! Keep your fingers crossed
August 9th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Sanya - My 9 year old son was diagnosed with Polyarteritis Nodosa at 7 yrs. of age. This is a similar form of Vasculitis to Behcet’s. We understand first hand your suffering and all you went through to get where you are today. You are an inspiration and we are rooting for you 100%. My son has been in remission for 1 year now and is doing well. He is an avid baseball fan and Little Leaguer. We are holding the “Mountain Top Classic Charity Baseball Tournament” from August 20-24 to raise $ for the Vasculitis Foundation. We are already over $3000 and we haven’t even had the tournament yet! I believe we need to get the word out about Vasculitis and one day we can beat it. We will be following your races closely. You have an awesome group of Little Leaguers cheering for you in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania. Go Sanya!
Terry Tokach
August 18th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Sanya,
My wife suffers with Behcet’s. Thank you for the inspiration that this disease can be overcome. We understand what you went through in 2007 more than most people do and to be at the level that you are right now is truly amazing. We will be pulling for you in the final.
Thank you for your work that you are doing to raise awareness. With the international success that you are creating for yourself, you are also being given the opportunity to help many people that just go on suffering without help, and often without even being given a diagnosis. It took us almost a year to break through the perception that you have to be a middle eastern man from Turkey to be able to get this disease.
We hope you beat the bullet in the finals!
David and Sharon Petersen
Draper, Utah USA!
August 20th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Sanya,
Today is truly an inspirational day for me and I would like to explain why.
Last night my 9 year old son, Gage, was watching you run and win the Bronze metal while I was resting due to a severe flare-up from my Behcet’s.
When I walked into the room he was excited and shared with me that he was watching you and he heard someone say you suffered from Behcet’s Syndrome.
Although Gage is very intelligent, I thought he must have been mistaken, and since I was having a “Bad Behcet’s” day his imagination must have been “running” while you were running the track. I didn’t want to drain his excitement so I thanked him for letting me know and promised I would look into it further.
Well, today is a bed rest day for me due to the severe debilitating symptoms that attack so quickly and I decided it was a good time to check into Gage’s tidbit of info.
Of course I was shocked to find out he was right. I have spent the past couple of years researching, contacting the Canadian Behcet’s Organization, dealing with doctor’s etc, etc, etc. You are right when you say nobody truly understands how hard it is to deal with the symptoms unless you have them and I think anyone with Behcet’s would agree.
I have sent you a personal email to discuss this further but I wanted to share this story because it was not only inspiring for me to see what you have accomplished while dealing with Behcet’s but to see Gage’s reaction was priceless.
It has given him new hope which encourages me to fight all that much harder. He just finished checking out your website with me and he has a sense of pride that he was the one to tell me about you. It was truly a touching moment to see the sense of pride he carried. (Let’s hope he isn’t expecting me to suddenly become an Olympic athlete!!)
Congratulations on your win, and representing not only your Country so well, but also Women and your Behcet’s Family!
Tammy Langille
August 20th, 2008 at 10:33 am
I wanted to mention, I read what Coca-Cola did for the ABDA on your behalf and that is wonderful. Although I am not a U.S. Resident (I am Canadian) I am hoping the treatment options available in the States soon filter through to us here on the other side of the border.
The more awareness and funding for research and treatment of BD is huge regardless of where you live.
It is great you have chosen to step up and use your athletic stage to help all of us around the world. It takes a special type of person to do that.
Thank you for that!
Tammy Langille
Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada
August 28th, 2008 at 7:25 am
You saw hoe good you are. I don’t may words, because I can’t… Congratulations Sanya!
August 28th, 2008 at 7:27 am
I can’t say more, because I respect you so much! You are a star!
December 11th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Dear Sanya,
My 18 year old daughter has received a diagnosis from a doctor that she perhaps has Behcet’s Disease. Since I had never heard of this before, I have done some investigating via the Internet and discovered your website. All I can say is “Wow!”. I remember very well cheering for you in the Olympics and being so excited to see you and your teammates run! Of course at the time, Behcet’s Syndrome meant nothing to me so I did not understand what you had experienced with this trauma.
My daughter is also a competitive athlete as an avid tennis player. She has been the #1 singles and #1 doubles player for her new university following a successful time in high school. She recently ended with a 3-2 record in singles play and an undefeated 5-0 in doubles this past fall and is looking forward to a successful spring season.
While preparing to take finals this week, she was hit with an illness that had the exact same symptoms of a virus she had contracted in May of ‘08, just seven months ago. Following a visit with a doctor in the town where she attends college, this doctor seems to think she has Behcet’s disease. He advised us to see a rheumatologist when she comes home for the holidays.
My daughter has had sores in her mouth and genital area, and a very high fever with horrible headaches. Also after playing competitive tennis for the past five years, she also started suffering from pulled ham strings. I was wondering if you had experienced similar symptoms? I had read in your blog that you had had oral sores, but wondered what your skin lesions had entailed? Also we would be interested in what medication was given to you as a treatment, and if you have ever explored natural, herbal alternatives?
We were both excited to hear that such an accomplished female athlete has been able to thrive under these adverse conditions because she does not want to give up her tennis. Ironically, both times these symptoms have arisen, she was in her “off” training, preparing for finals…
Any help you can give us in this investigative period would be helpful as we continue to explore this disease and view our treatment options. Just as you witness, our faith sustains us during difficult times, and we applaud your testimony as well as your great athleticism.
Sincerely,
S. Johnson
Alpine, Utah