Jane O’Brien Ayers

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2008 Great Comebacks^® Recipient, Central Region  

Juggling an infant with another baby on the way is a challenge for any young mother, so just imagine what it’s like to be dealing with the exhausting symptoms of Crohn’s disease at the same time. For 25-year-old Jane O’Brien Ayers of Columbus, OH, the answer was simple: keep moving forward!

Over the next five years, Jane not only learned to manage her disease but also had two more children. Then, at the age of 37, with her four children ranging in age 8 to 14, her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to ileostomy surgery. While Jane has experienced further complications since, she says the surgery has allowed her to regain her energy and enjoy activities such as skiing, hiking, swimming, golf and gardening.

Once finding it difficult to travel, Jane was finally able to enjoy family trips. Now, with her children all grown up and living across the country, Jane is thankful long journeys aren’t a problem so she can see all of her seven grandchildren.

At the change of each season, Jane and her husband of 45 years, Jim, pack up and make a 3-day, 1,675 mile road trip so that they can spend quality time at their second home in Park City, UT, where two of their children reside. Three months later, they make the epic journey back to Ohio to be with their remaining family, in all completing 4 trips each year.

In addition to her family activities, Jane enjoys playing the piano, is an active member at her church and the Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood, which promotes educational opportunities for women and has taken on the project of tracking her family’s genealogy. Jane says her husband’s support was crucial to helping her mentally, physically and emotionally recover from her surgery, recalling the many nights he spent by her hospital bed.

Jane, 67, is still determined to not let life pass her by. “If I feel like doing it, I do it. For anyone who thinks that surgery will be too overpowering, have trust that you’ll have the strength to overcome any obstacle.”