Thomas Rinkacs

2006 Great Comebacks^® Recipient
Mid Atlantic Region, FNP

Thomas Rinkacs was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the age of 13. After three years of debilitating diarrhea, painful cramps, weight loss and finally a full summer in the hospital, he received an ileostomy at the advice of his physician.

Rinkacs had been an active athlete prior to his diagnosis, but limited his participation in sports due to multiple factors, including a low self esteem and a fear of unveiling his condition to his peers. His life mainly revolved around his disease and the numerous hospitalizations and surgeries that accompanied it. Despite a supportive network of family and friends, he battled depression, an added emotional burden that would follow him for almost 20 years.

Still, Rinkacs’ struggle with IBD awakened a passion in him to help others facing similar issues, a passion he continues to pursue today as a Family Nurse Practitioner. But it wasn’t until a couple of years ago when Rinkacs began to see himself as a teenager in other young patients; alone, reclusive and full of self doubt, that he recognized the patient-to-patient impact of sharing his story.

He started living and practicing medicine in the example of his own Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Dr. Ramamurti Chandra, MD, who understood the emotional challenges of young people living with IBD and remains a close friend to this day.

Today, Rinkacs applies what he has learned in his advice to other young people in hopes that they may benefit from his story and know they are not alone. In his own words, “every situation in life is a chance to learn if you remain open to the challenge.”

This past year, he completed his first marathon (The Disney World Marathon in Orlando) and also his first half Ironman triathlon (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run). His next goal is to complete a full Ironman triathlon, possibly with the best time of anyone to ever do so with an ileostomy.

Next up for Rinkacs is volunteering at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) Camp Oasis, a co-ed residential camp that provides a safe and supportive camp community for children with IBD. Most important to him though is “continuing to be the best father, husband, brother, son, friend and nurse practitioner I can be.”

Rinkacs and his wife Debbie reside in Laurinburg, North Carolina with their two children, Cassie and Nate.