Erick Bauer - Bordon - 2007
During the summer of 2007, at the age of 22, I was confronted by the reality of what it means to live with Cystic Fibrosis.In late April my lung function plummeted nearly 50%. The relentless lung infection left me exhausted, frustrated, and sincerely concerned about the prospect of recuperation.
For the first time in my life I was forced to accept the limitations imposed upon me by the disease. I felt as though the statistics were finally catching up with me.
Over a four-month period I endured several courses of oral and intervenes antibiotics; which, to my dismay, never seemed to stabilize my condition. My pulmonary function continued to drop, my hospital stays grew longer and more frequent, and the prescribed medications began to take their toll both physically and mentally.
The absence of physical activity in my life left me humiliated and aggravated. A once avid cyclist, runner, hockey player, and all round athlete, I found myself unable to complete even the most remedial tasks. The journey from my hospital bed to the washroom became a test of endurance, leaving me gasping for air.
Enthusiasm soon turned to impatience, vigor to fear, as the relentless infection continued to intrude upon every aspect of my life. What I needed was inspiration, a flash of encouragement to disrupt the pattern of negativity that had taken hold of my life. I found that inspiration in a copy of Triathlon Canada magazine.
As I sat in my hospital bed, magazine in hand, I read about a 38-year-old woman named Lisa Bentley, who, like me, was living with cystic fibrosis. However Lisa was no ordinary CF patient; she was an athlete, more specifically, a triathlete. A former math teacher turned professional athlete, Lisa made her mark on the sports world by winning an astonishing ten Ironman triathlon championships despite the fact that she was living with a potentially fatal respiratory disease. Her success was the inspiration I needed.
I found myself digging through magazines and on-line articles in an attempt to learn more about Lisa and her amazing journey to the top of the triathlon world. The more I read, the more inspired I became. It was this moment of inspiration that gave rise to my passion for triathlon and multi-sport.
I vowed to compete in my first multi-sport event. I wanted to achieve the satisfaction of completing such a grueling task, but more importantly, I wanted to prove to my friends and family that I was still in control of my CF. After some deliberation, I decided to register for the C.F.B Borden Duathalon (the last race of the year in the HSBC triathlon series). The race was only two months away, and my health was the worst it had ever been, however I found confidence and strength in the accomplishments of fellow CF patient (and new found inspiration) Lisa Bentley.
As the weeks slowly passed by I began to regain my strength. With an intravenous line in my arm and a bag of antibiotics around my waste, I began riding my bike. At first I struggled to ride to the end of my street and back; but as the days passed, and my endurance improved, I began riding further and harder. My lung function increased, and my intravenous line was removed. I felt liberated. I felt like I was in control once again. As September approached, I found myself unable to contain the excitement that came with the idea of racing in my first duathlon.
The race was a absolutely grueling. I finished in 98th place out of 132 participants –a rather mediocre result. However, as I crossed the finish line on that warm fall day what I experienced was the unmistakable, undeniable, feeling of victory.
Lisa has chosen to not let her disease rule her life. Her advice to fellow CF patients is simple, “Attitude is more important than fact. The fact may be that you have an obstacle in your way, but it is how you think about that obstacle that determines its manageability.”
The truth is, not every CF patient has the ability to participate in a duathlon or triathlon. Nevertheless, by staying active and recognizing the importance of a positive attitude CF patient’s can maintain a level of control over a disease that quite often seems uncontrollable.
Although my health has improved over the last year, my lung function has still not completely recovered. I still rely heavily on antibiotic treatments, nebulizer therapy, anti-inflammatory puffers, and daily prednisone ingestions. Regardless, I am determined to overcome the limitations that CF has placed on my life.
Thank you Lisa; you are an inspiration and a role model to an entire community of CF survivors.
See you at the finish line!
Erick
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