Gutless Kayaking

Until October 2001, aged 41, Justin had been very fit and healthy. He then started to develop a series of seemingly unrelated ailments. Strange rashes appeared, his joints seized up and his nail beds became infected. At one point he had over 100 mouth ulcers. His doctor was not able to help. By March 2003 Justin was very ill and losing weight. His sister took him to the local accident and emergency department where Justin was admitted to hospital. After a few days of investigations it became clear that his large intestine (colon) needed to be removed. This tissue was sent to the pathology laboratory, where it was diagnosed that Justin had Crohn’s disease.

About a week after the surgery, Justin’s recovery ran into problems. As the complications mounted, Justin was moved into intensive care, then transferred to St. Mark’s Hospital for more specialist care. That first hospital visit lasted 8 months. Most of the following four and half years were spent either in hospital recovering from surgery or being looked after by his family whilst awaiting further surgery.

By 2006, Justin had lost most of his small bowel  too (short bowel syndrome) and needed total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in order to survive. This is a lifelong condition, requiring administration of liquid intravenous nutrition for 12 hours a day. Justin self-manages this treatment.

Since his last abdominal surgery in August 2007 Justin has been studying psychology at the University of Portsmouth. However, in March 2009 Justin had a heart infection which led to a stroke and the need for open heart surgery. Because of this he needed to take a year off from university.

This kayaking trip is Justin’s way of saying thank-you to everyone who has helped keep him get well over these last few years, and to raise some funds for the amazing research carried out at St. Mark’s Hospital.

Read about the other paddlers  on this trip.

If you’d like to contact Justin directly, please send an e-mail: info@gutlesskayaking.com