Rejecting pain
Cassandra Guay, a New Hampshire implant to Schweitzer Mountain Resort in beautiful Sandpoint, is no rookie when it comes to extreme exercise.
She has cycled from Anacortes, Wash., 300 miles over the Cascades and across the country with friends, she snowboards every chance she gets, she runs half-Ironmans, she swims lake competitions such as Sandpoint's Long Bridge 1.76-mile Swim every summer, and she just finished her first 50K, the Spokane River Run. That's 31 miles.
Guay also works full-time as a manager and is an online part-time med student, hoping to finish next semester and land her internship and a job close to home.
Guay just celebrated her 38th birthday this March and plans to continue finding races and events to keep her fit and inspire others along the way.
But what is so unique about this woman that could inspire others? She has lupus.
Lupus affects thousands of people every day, and living with lupus is a very painful and frustrating disease, constantly changing in those with the disease. Lupus is never the same from one individual to another.
"After years of nagging pain in my muscles and body tissue, not to mention facial rashes, swelling and numbing in my hands and fingers, fatigue and inflammation, all of which I tried to put to the back of my mind, I was officially diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus in May 2011," said Guay. She went on describing the disease, "This particular lupus is the most common and symptoms can range from mild to severe. The body's cells fight one another (all healthy cells confused seeing each other as foreign) causing inflammation in various parts of the body, joints, kidneys, skin, brain, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Sometimes the symptoms will go into remission and at other times the disease will flare causing severe pain - very inconsistent and unpredictable."
Guay explained how sometimes knowing the name of a disease is somewhat of a relief. "But with lupus it never changes the pain. And, although I am aware, I refuse to allow the pain to slow me down." Guay continues to exercise daily and has chosen natural methods of treating her symptoms.
"I'd rather find the safest, most natural way to treat my symptoms and reduce - hopefully eliminate my pain. The preventative drugs recommended by physicians feel experimental and I just don't want to go there. I've found completely eliminating gluten from my diet seems to work." Guay said. "I was inspired to read Rob Wolff's "Paleo Solution" upon a friend's recommendation, and removing gluten and increasing my exercise has changed my life."
Guay has a passion for life and the outdoors. And, because of that, she surrounds herself with people who are encouraging, inspiring, and fit. Over the years she has slowly increased her activity level to what it is today - an elite athlete, running, swimming, and biking, reducing the intensity of her pain caused from lupus. She swears by her method over taking prescription drugs to relieve pain caused from the disease. "I hope to encourage others who may have symptoms or those diagnosed with Lupus to do the same, to look into changing their diet and add daily exercise. I am really hoping to bring awareness to the Pacific Northwest's Lupus Foundation too, specifically through events like the half marathon coming up in June (in Seattle)."
Her next event is another 50K this summer, and she has plans for the Boston Marathon next spring.
The Lupus Foundation of America Pacific Northwest Chapter is in Seattle, far from those in North Idaho, Montana and eastern Washington who are affected by the disease, who are in need of answers, encouragement, or even financial help.
With more than 50,000 diagnosed cases within the last few years, awareness and fundraisers are necessary and people like Guay cannot raise awareness alone. The Lupus Foundation needs volunteers to support the cause.
Nicol Barnes, of Coeur d'Alene, a veteran fundraiser who has worked on Relay for Life events in the area, recently volunteered to create a focus group to promote awareness for local lupus patients. She plans to work with the Seattle-based group to organize an event and help provide direction to ensure that local donations stay in Idaho, Montana and eastern Washington.
May is Lupus awareness month, so now is a great time to get involved with Barnes and others, or if you would like to simply donate to the foundation, please call Celia at 1-877-774-2992. You can also email her at info@lupuspnw.org or visit the website, www.lulpuspnw.org.
Learn more about lupus
For more information
Lupus Foundation of America
Pacific Northwest Chapter
www.lulpuspnw.org
1-877-774-2992