Two people, two amazing missions!

Mike Ehredt and Lisa Smith-Batchen, both from Teton Valley, Idaho, are on amazing running missions. Please consider running with them or cheering them on if they are passing through your town.

Mike's mission is called "Project America Run" where he will run 4514 miles across the United States to honor and remember service members lost in Iraq. He is currently placing flags that hold a yellow ribbon bearing the Name, Rank, Service, Age and Hometown of those whose dreams and ambitions were taken so quickly from us. The flags are being placed each mile along the roads he is traveling in reverse chronological order by date of death, till the very last flag is placed on the shores of the Atlantic in Rockland, Maine. This is a personal tribute, a silent memorial for those who have served with dignity and honor and whose sacrifice will never be forgotten.

To find out more about Mike's extraordinary journey check out:

• Mike's website Mike's wearing a tracking device and there's a cool map showing exactly where Mike is. Very cool!
• Mike's blog, a daily account of Mike's progress
• Mike's FaceBook page

The start of Mike's journey on May 1, 2010

Lisa Smith-Batchen is going to run 50 miles in 50 states in 62 days to raise money for orphans. All funds raised through the event will be donated to help orphans in the United States and abroad. The Dreamchasers Foundation will disperse 100% of donations between three organizations: The Orphan Foundation of America, AIDS Orphans Rising, and The Caring House Project.

Lisa started her run a couple of weeks ago and has already completed 500 miles!

• Lisa's website
• Lisa's blog
• Lisa's FaceBook page
• Lisa's Twitter feed

A couple of Lisa's crew. Sister Mary Beth and Mike E. If you like what you see of Mike E, let me know and I'll fix you up.

Crisis

"Hydrocortisone is Life" Babs

If you've got Addison's, the above statement is absolutely, positively no exaggeration.

In my story about Fran dying from complications of Addison's, I mentioned crisis. Erin asked this question in the comments:

So do you Addison's folks think these "stomach bugs" people get are actually bugs/viruses? Or are they triggered/originate from heading into an Addison's crisis? I've done a ton of reading about people's experiences with crisis, and "stomach bug" seems to be the most common beginning of a crisis. Just wondering if it's actually a bug, or if it's just the first symptom of the crisis.

It got me thinking about the Addison's crisis. We act as if, wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am, we go into crisis with no warning what so ever. One minute perky and happy, the next minute passed out on the floor needing an ambulance. Realistically, I think the truth is somewhere in between.

In my case, my crisis was preceded by a migraine, too much alcohol, a two week stomach ache that I ignored or thinking that herbs and positive thinking (as opposed to antibiotics) were going to cure the feeling of peeing glass that was actually a kidney infection.

In each and every case, I knew a crisis was coming and probably didn't abide by the mantra, "Hydrocortisone is Life" and worked well within the detrimental boundaries of "Steroid Guilt". All it got me was an Addison's crisis and an expensive trip to the ER. I think if I had been rational, I would have doubled or tripled my HC as recommended by my mentor Wanda on several of the above occasions, and avoided the trauma and expense of the ER.

Signs of under replacement that can lead to a crisis:

• nausea and/or vomiting
• weakness
• heavy arms and legs
• fatigue
• low blood pressure/head rushes upon standing
• salt craving
• joint and muscle pain
• headache
• craving salt

When you're not feeling well for any reason, stop being tough or worried about taking too much steroid. Double up and avoid a crisis and trip to the ER. If you can't hold down fluids, give yourself the damned shot and head to the Emergency Room!!