Nakieta's Rollin' with No Colon

As many of you know, Nakieta was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) about 10 years ago. UC is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the digestive track. For better or for worse, this is typically a silent disease, where those suffering from its symptoms can often look to carry on a "normal" life. For the majority of the last decade, Nakieta has been able to manage flares with various medications, supplements, diet, IVs, and maybe most significantly, her unbelievably positive outlook and lots of prayer.

Unfortunately, this past summer, Nakieta's UC journey took a turn for the worse as she experienced the worst flare yet. Despite exploring every option available to her, including a holistic wellness retreat designed and known for healing auto immune illnesses, extreme diet changes, a 2 1/2 week hospitalization, regular IV infusions, steroids and even chemo meds, Nakieta's condition declined.

Last Thursday, November 9, Nakieta checked back into the ER to be admitted for treatment and ultimately scheduled for surgery. After months of prayer and dozens of appointments with her medical team, a full colectomy became Nakieta's only option forward. She received the surgery this past Tuesday, and is, as expected, facing recovery with her contagious positivity, joy and sense of humor.

Both Nakieta and Josh have faced this long health battle with unwavering hope and faith in the face of many hard days. As some of the very lucky folks who get to walk through life with the Curries--we have been desperately racking our brains with how we can tangibly come alongside and support their family. (12 hospital goody bags and floral arrangements later, we think that front has been covered :). While J & N have gone out of their way to never burden their friends and family with their battles, we know that many treatments over the past few months have not been covered by insurance as well as many of the physician's bills from the weeks in the hospital are completely out of pocket.

Our hope in starting this GoFundMe is that both Josh and Nakieta would experience the tangible support of their community, one that truly carries one another's burdens. More than anything, we know continued prayer for Nakieta's long term healing and adjusting to life with #nocolonstillrollin is the best support the Currie family could possibly receive.

While Nakieta likely has 1-2 more surgeries ahead of her in the next few years, this is prayerfully the beginning of the end of this battle with UC. We praise God for the hope that this surgery brings and for the warrior woman he created in our girl, Nakieta!