Staying positive

CEDAR RAPIDS — Success in the pool would never have arrived for Jody Petersen had it not been for her strong, competitive spirit and endless positivity.

The former Cedar Rapids Kennedy All-American — and school record-holder on the 2007 Cougar 200-yard medley relay team — continued her swimming career at UNI, where she graduated with a degree in elementary education.

But before she could begin her dream of being an elementary school teacher, Petersen has been forced to put that competitive spirit and positivity to work in an entirely different battle — with a condition known as ulcerative colitis.

'I was diagnosed going into my senior year at Kennedy,' said Petersen, 23. 'I started having symptoms my junior year. That's when I started not being able to sleep at night. The symptoms weren't too debilitating at first, but once I got into college I knew it was not something I was able to control very well.'

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease of the large intestine which causes the lining of the colon to develop ulcers. While similar to Crohn's disease, colitis is limited strictly to the colon. Petersen initially hoped to manage the disease through stringent diet and exercise, but the symptoms worsened and a medicinal solution was sought early last year without success.

When pain and fatigue worsened to the point she was unable to fulfill her student teaching obligations, Petersen elected to have surgery.

'It was definitely a major life decision,' Petersen said. 'Knowing that none of the ordinary medicines that help treat or reduce your symptoms weren't working for my body at all, I realized that I needed a quality of life.'

The surgery came in three phases, beginning with the removal of the colon. Petersen underwent surgery on Christmas Eve at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She returned home three days later, but within five days severe pain triggered some serious and rare complications.

'I actually went straight to the emergency room,' Petersen said. 'Because I couldn't walk and I had lost my vision.'

Petersen was airlifted back to the Mayo Clinic on New Year's Day where she learned three of her organs were shutting down and her blood supply was not reaching her small intestine. Doctors administered blood thinners for three blood clots they discovered and she was able to return home after a few days.

'I am lucky to be here today,' Petersen said. 'It's scarier to me now than it was then.'

After four days, the pain returned to a lesser degree and Petersen was again airlifted to Mayo to be treated for somewhat more common complications given her surgery. Assuming no further surprises, Petersen is scheduled for two more surgeries over the next six to eight months. After that, she hopes to ease into her teaching career as a substitute during rehabilitation and continue her role as assistant coach and swim lesson coordinator for the Cedar Rapids Aquatic Association.

'I want to teach so bad,' Petersen said. 'I've wanted my own classroom since I've been done student teaching ... depending on when I feel like I can stand for that long and be able to be in the classroom for the kids.'

An account has been established at www.gofundme.com/JodyPetersen to help defray the mounting medical costs. Other donation inquiries also can be made through Coach John Ross at Cedar Rapids Kennedy. The substantial response from family, friends and the entire swimming community has been a source of inspiration.

'As much as you think you're alone in this, you're definitely not,' Petersen said. 'The response is just very overwhelming.'

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com