Joshua Bradley – the autoimmune athlete. Crohn’s will not stop him!

Multiple surgeries and six years of extreme complications due to Crohn’s almost broke Joshua’s body and spirit – but he fought back and triumphed!

Earlier this year, and only months after his 16th surgery, Josh got a used one gear bike from Craigslist and rode 550 miles, from SF to LA, in 7 days.

Exhausted and excited he wrote: “What I needed to push this bike from SF to LA came from inside – the outside support and equipment were necessary – but the training, discipline, ingenuity, curiosity, kindness and compassion toward myself and others, were all in me. I know you can do it too.”

On his long and excruciating journey back to wellness and athletic lifestyle, my friend Joshua used an interesting combination of healing methods and bio-hacking in addition to strong will and hard work.

“I worked my way back from some incredibly scary places and had to become an expert in my own health from genetics to microbiome and mitochondrial health. I did a lot of research, consulted with experts, and created a plan that worked for me, a combination of medication, keto-style diet, and unique meditation techniques, as well as all the breathwork and athletic training.”

He didn’t stop there. This is what he wrote to me today: “Life has been very full, not the least of which last weekend I finished my first Triathlon.
It was the Hope For Crohn’s Triathlon, which raised money for children with Crohn’s for treatment and as sponsorship to send them to summer camps. While competing in the triathlon and seeing all the people and kids there that were affected by IBD, I really became even more inspired to continue to share my struggles and successes, especially with young people and their families. I was one of only 3 people doing the triathlon with Crohn’s.

I was thinking of you and your Gut Harmony group a lot through the triathlon. There was a guy in his 20s that was struggling on the run and I slowed down to talk with him. I found out he also had Crohn’s, was diagnosed at 8 and went to one of the children’s camps that the organization was using the money raised to support. I have friends with young children and Crohn’s and know how much of a struggle it can be. I am committed more than ever to do what I can to help, guide and be of service.”

Joshua continued: “The triathlon was quite an adventure from the foggy swim that swallowed up the buoys to a run that went from path to trail to beach (and I’m pretty sure I ran an extra mile).

The smile on my face while running captures everything about finishing my first triathlon especially one with a mission so close to my heart, donating funds to send kids with Crohn’s and IBD to summer camp.

The last six years since being diagnosed with Crohn’s has been spent in ERs, hospital rooms, surgery centers and ICUs. The last six months include things I never would have believed I could accomplish before. After the triathlon, my training partner and I rode our bikes back to Santa Cruz from San Rafael, riding over three mountains, the Golden Gate Bridge and down the historic Highway 1.”

There is not just hope for people with Crohn’s, there is an awaiting transformation and an invitation to experience life with a sense of wonder and gratitude most people won’t ever experience.