Jeff Larsen

2007 Honorary Great Comebacks^® Program Award Recipient, West Region

Imagine being a travel writer and photographer at a major daily newspaper and having to deal with the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Jeff Larsen had to do just that after he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the mature age of 49. Thanks to a colectomy and ileostomy two years ago and corrective surgeries last year, Jeff's daily struggles have been greatly reduced and he has become busier than ever.

Now 62, Jeff and his wife Trish decided last year - as a stress-reducer - it was time to freshen up their life. Jeff retired from his full-time job as a travel writer and photographer for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Jeff has since begun a remodeling project on their summer home near Hood Canal, Washington, and works part-time for the local golf club as a graphic designer, photographer and web designer. He is also fashioning a small note card business that will feature his bird photography from the Pacific Northwest.

“Since my surgeries, I've returned to many of the activities I really enjoy including personal travel, bird photography, and golf,” said Jeff. “I'm also now much closer to dear friends, relatives and most of all, my wife Trish.”

To Jeff, Trish - besides providing her love and understanding for 40 years of marriage - was the best support person he could have imagined during his struggles with ulcerative colitis. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner with a strong medical nursing background, Trish helped him more clearly understand his illness.

Even with all the current projects in his life, Jeff still tries to shoehorn more travel into his lifestyle. He and Trish bought an Airstream^® travel trailer last year and are planning a return trip to Panama in March. Jeff is most excited, however, about having the opportunity to help others by sharing his comeback story. “To be honest, the ileostomy surgery helped make my dreams come true,” said Jeff. “It is much easier to manage than ulcerative colitis and much easier to travel with. To anyone suffering from the advanced stages of ulcerative colitis, my humble advice would be to get the surgery. It might be a blessing.”