Josh Reineke

An inspirational story about a UC patient going the distance for a good cause.

Click here to read more about Josh's "Going the Distance with UC" experience.

In the Beginning

Josh Reineke takes on many roles in his life. He is a grad student, father, husband, accomplished athlete – and he tackles all of these roles while managing his Ulcerative Colitis (UC). But the 27-year-old will tell you that none of it was easy, and it is only possible by maintaining control of his UC.

Josh, a grad student working toward his PhD at Brown University's Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology, was diagnosed with UC in the summer of 2005. After a long and frustrating process of misdiagnoses by many doctors, he finally went to a specialist who correctly diagnosed him with UC and immediately started him on an appropriate treatment, including Asacol (mesalamine). "After a series of incorrect diagnoses, I finally learned that I had UC, and thought that it meant the end of my dreams," says Josh. "But then I realized that I could do this. All I needed was a good support system, which I have in my family, a good doctor and dedication to adhere to proper treatment prescribed by my physician."

New Inspiration

Through the support of his friends and family, Josh is able to maintain his active lifestyle despite having UC. He says that his wife, Noi, provides much of the motivation that he has in his life, pushing him to live his life normally and be grateful for what he has. And his 2-year-old daughter, Jaixai, constantly keeps him smiling. The birth of his daughter made him realize that he really wanted to make his dreams come true. "The many supportive people in my life are the main reason that I've been able to handle my condition," says Josh. "I believe that it's really important to openly talk to others about my UC, because their support reduces my amount of worry and stress. Whether they serve as somebody to talk with, someone who can relate or just simply someone who is understanding, my support network has been instrumental in maintaining my health."

Going the Distance with UC and Living His Dream

With this constant support, Josh has continued to accomplish what some may perceive as impossible: participating in several triathlons and a duathlon, including the 2006 Duathlon World Championship last July. A competitive triathlete, Josh entered the world of duathlons by mistake, after checking the wrong box on a registration form for a race in upstate New York in June 2005, accidentally signing up for the three-leg, run-bike-run event. He ran the first leg, a five-kilometer course, in 21 minutes, 28 seconds, biked 30 kilometers in 45 minutes, 39 seconds and completed the last five-kilometer run in 24 minutes, 23 seconds. His final time was one hour, 33 minutes and 46 seconds, placing him fourteenth overall. This qualified him for the championship. Since then, he has competed in many races and is able to continue this active lifestyle by adhering to a healthy diet and taking medications as directed by his doctor. His dream is to someday also qualify for the World Championship of Triathlons, proving that UC has not stopped him from participating in the athletic events that he loves so much.

Josh's experience and accomplishments are exceptional; individual results may vary.