“I was born with bladder exstrophy, and it was the best thing that could have ever happened to me!” God, I wish I had always felt that way.

Let me start by saying that I was extremely blessed to have an incredible doctor, Dr. Casimir Firlit, that not only worked medical miracles but also acted as an instrumental life coach to my parents on raising a child (their first) with certain challenges. Without him not only would I not be the man I am, but I wouldn’t even be here to tell this story. I am forever grateful. Now, the good stuff…

Within a couple hours of being born, I was rushed by ambulance to Children’s Memorial Hospital, and within 36 hours was having my first surgery. By the time I was finishing elementary school, I had already had around 25 surgeries. You see, B.E. isn’t something that requires a one-time fix, it’s a long process, and back then this condition was really rare and not a lot was known about it. Just when I thought I was getting closer to clear skies… all those surgeries had caught up to me. Scar tissue had wrapped around my intestines, causing a full blockage, resulting in another emergency surgery and near death experience.

You’d think that would be all, right? Wrong. My bladder decided to pop a couple times, resulting in a couple helicopter rides and more near-death experiences. There have definitely been many other bumps in the road along the way, but those are some of the more memorable ones, and I am somewhere around 35+ surgeries now.

Through all of this, I was blessed that my parents took my doctor’s advice and implemented it lovingly, yet without exception. No matter what happened to me, or what obstacles crossed my path. My parents never let me believe that I was any different than anybody else or that there was anything that I couldn’t do. They never treated me like a victim, always reminding me that God gave me this for a reason and because he knew I was strong enough to handle it, and that one day I would understand.

For the most part I always believed that. That’s not to say it didn’t come with many challenges on my journey to becoming a man, because it absolutely did! I hid it from everyone, only told who I absolutely had to, and when I had to, it was one of the most difficult things in the world. Until this day, my family and my wife are the only ones that know exactly what my condition is. Everyone else just knows I had “some medical stuff when I was younger”.

Because it was emphasized to me that I could do anything that anyone else could do, I’ve lived a very “normal” life. I’m very athletic and played every sport while growing up from baseball, basketball, football, martial arts, and even professional wrestling. I’ve also been able to start and successfully own and operate multiple businesses. And because I have first-hand experienced the fragility of life, I am determined to not only live a fulfilling one but also find and serve my purpose while I’m here.

As I said before, I used to always feel I had to keep this a secret, but now that’s different. For a long time, I have felt extremely blessed and have struggled with the fact that I didn’t know what I could do to help, inspire, or even just put a smile on someone’s face that might be facing certain challenges in their own life. Then it hit me..

“God gave you this for a reason”.. The potential issues that can be associated with bladder exstrophy can be extremely difficult to navigate. Not everyone was blessed with the environment that I had, not everyone is like me, there are people suffering because of this condition. Beyond the obvious of surgeries and treatments, B.E. causes many to suffer with things like depression, social anxiety, and so much more. What if I could use my journey as a platform to help others who might be struggling with all the things I already went through?

That’s what B.E. Strong is. Giving children hope and strength. Helping them understand that Bladder Exstrophy does not define them. Empowering them to live the most fulfilled life possible!

I’m at a place in my life where I’m comfortable with who I am. I’m comfortable sharing my story and all of my struggles, if it means I can impact even one child’s life. B.E. made me strong, strong enough to help lift up my B.E. community.