“There will always be a way to achieve your dreams” – Jameson’s story
My name is Jameson Henderson Redden, I live in Adelaide, South Australia and I am 22 years old. I was first diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2015 when I was 12 years old, but the symptoms had started long before then. For over two years before I was diagnosed I battled daily with getting to the bathroom on time. I remember dreading going to school, being scared that I might have an accident in class and never recover from the embarrassment. I went to three different doctors when my symptoms first began. None of them knew what was wrong with me or what condition I had. I think for me that was the worst part. No one knew what was happening to me and no one could help me.
When I was finally diagnosed in late 2015, just before my year 7 graduation, I remember the relief I felt. This, despite still having serious symptoms and needing to visit the bathroom over 15 times a day at my worst. Thankfully during high school through years of medication and IV biologics, I did enter remission, however in 2021 I flared up again and have been unable to fully control it since then. But that’s not the point of this story! The point of this story is to hopefully encourage some other people out there with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease to learn to live with the condition.
After high school I decided I wanted to study International Relations and Political Science at Flinders University. My father had worked closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade when I was growing up, and international affairs, foreign relations and politics had always interested me. How countries work together to solve problems and get along I think is one of the most important issues to understand and get involved with in this world.
At university I always try my hardest to put 100% into every assignment. In year 7 I missed a lot of my classes because of my UC, and I think because of that in high school I struggled to keep up. At university I was determined for it to not affect my studies, but it sure has put up a good fight! I have had to submit an access plan to allow an extra few minutes during exams for me to go off to the bathroom and I have missed more than a few classes due to doctors’ appointments, general pains and anything and everything else UC related!
Despite these setbacks, I am happy to report that early last year, I received a chancellor’s letter of commendation from the university for my ongoing strong grades! Seeing my hard work pay off was one of the best feelings I had in a long time, and it honestly felt like I had finally won a small part of my battle with UC. Shortly after this accomplishment, I decided to apply for a rather unique opportunity at my university. Since 2000, Flinders University has been running a program called with Washington Internship Program. This opportunity is run once a year to a select number of students, usually 4 or 5, that demonstrate exception interest in US politics, strong grades and a passion for international relations. The opportunity allows students to work as an intern for a U.S. Member of Congress or Senator for two months, in Washington D.C. America. Interns answer constituent phone calls, provide tours of the capitol, recommend how the members should vote on a particular bill, visit the Australian Embassy in Washington and so much more. And to my amazement, I was accepted!
One thing I, and I am sure anyone else with UC or Crohn’s has learned to dread is long road trips, time away from toilets and the big one, airplane trips. But I was not going to let that stop me from this opportunity. My Congressional Office in D.C., the Office of Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, was very accommodating of my UC, allowing me to visit the bathroom whenever I needed, and I felt comfortable letting my fellow interns know about my condition. While in the U.S. I still needed to visit the bathroom regularly, but for the first time since 2015 I felt like I was in control. My UC was not going to impact the opportunity of a lifetime, and it didn’t. I could go on for days about my experience, but the point is this. No matter how old or young you are, no matter if you were diagnosed last week or last decade, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are not the boss of you. No matter what goals in life you may have, what hobbies and interests you are passionate about or what side of the globe you are on, there will always be a way to achieve your dreams. Whether its back home in Australia, or in the halls of the Capitol Building of Washington D.C.