Tova Schprecher helps women connect with themselves and nature through her walking groups

I

was 12, and I was too weak to walk.

I didn’t know exactly what was happening to my body, but my symptoms flared up as I dealt with a challenging situation. Pale, skinny, and fragile, I experienced chronic gastrointestinal issues. I felt like my body was slipping away from me — and I had no idea why.

When the doctor saw me, he said, “You need to go to the hospital. Now.” We went. A quick blood test revealed that my hemoglobin was perilously low, and an unpleasant colonoscopy confirmed what the blood tests had already hinted at: I had colitis. Inflammation, bleeding, and ulcers. My colon was attacking itself.

What followed was a whirlwind of steroids, blood transfusions, and medications with names I couldn’t pronounce. A parade of doctors, endless tests, and so many hospital stays that I stopped keeping count. Each time I hoped things would improve, the results came back worse. And the symptoms took over my life. Sudden bleeding. Terrible fatigue. I could barely drag myself outside.

One day, I read an article about a man who also had colitis. He eventually was able to manage his symptoms, and he wrote about running around his block with his dog. I almost laughed; it sounded like an absurd dream. Imagine being able to run around the block! At the moment, even walking seemed hopelessly out of reach.