When asked to describe how she and her husband met, Sarah Dreisinger laughs and brightly says, “It’s a funny story!” They met by chance due to a family connection in the building where her future husband, David Glass, lived, and hit it off after months of Sarah visiting. She was in law school at the time, while David worked in accounting. They eventually married, and have since been together almost nine years.

But there have been ups and downs over the years. Sarah has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition that’s very different from irritable bowel syndrome. IBD causes inflammation to areas of Sarah’s digestive tract, and makes it extremely difficult for her body to maintain nutrients.

“It’s been tough,” David shared with The Jewish Link. “There’s a lot that needs to be done to provide Sarah with the care she needs, and we’re doing everything we can. The days can feel long, but we also still find time to laugh and smile.”

Sarah was diagnosed when she was 14, though she’d been sick for nine months prior. As she explained, it was difficult to receive treatment at such a young age as the doctors were still figuring out how exactly to even attempt to treat her.

“It’s terrifying when the very professionals treating you have no idea why you are alive or how to keep you going,” Sarah shared. “I spend much of my days dreaming about foods I used to be able to eat. But I also know that everything I eat causes trouble now, even liquids.”

Sarah was hospitalized numerous times throughout high school as she underwent treatment and blood transfusions. At one point, her kidneys even failed because of the drugs she was taking. She was given a number of different regimens involving steroids, intravenous medications and drug trials, and some would work for a time, but each time Sarah’s body would stop responding to the treatment and they would be back to square one.

“A lot of it was very disheartening,” Sarah continued. “It’s tough when you’re trying everything you can and still not really getting anywhere. But I persevere anyway, because you have to.”

Five years ago, following another surgery, Sarah’s esophagus burst and she went into sepsis and septic shock, and fell into a coma for four days. David was told she had a less than 2% chance of survival. She miraculously pulled through, but the doctors were not hopeful about her prognosis.

“The doctors told me that Sarah would suffer severe neurological damage,” David shared. “They said she would need to relearn how to eat, walk, talk and that she would be in the hospital for six months followed by six months of inpatient rehabilitation. Hearing that news was as tough as you can imagine.”

But Sarah beat the odds, and after just 23 days she was out of the hospital. On the 24th day she and David walked a mile together.

“It was an incredible thing,” David continued. “I am continually blown away by my wife’s strength and resilience, as she has proven time and time again. There’s no one in the world stronger than her.”

Sarah has difficulty maintaining weight due to her condition, and at one point even weighed below 50 pounds. There are fewer than five foods that she can tolerate. Her condition was recently declared terminal, and David was terminated from his position due to his need to maintain a work-from-home status in order to care for Sarah, which left them without insurance.

“I try to remain positive about what I do have,” Sarah continued, “which is the most supportive husband ever, even if he can be tough and won’t give in to my cravings because he knows what will happen if he does. It’s what he has to do, though, and I am forever grateful for him.”

Without work or insurance to cover Sarah’s medical expenses, David has launched a GoFundMe campaign. He and Sarah are incredibly touched by those who have come out to support them.

“It’s incredible,” David continued. “We’re both continually floored by the generosity and support of our community. Every bit helps, and we are so grateful for everything.”

Sarah and David maintain a positive outlook looking forward. As David explained, Sarah has beaten the odds so many times before, that he is hopeful she will do the same again. Sarah herself echoes his sentiment, sharing her own message of hope for those cheering her on.

“Do everything you can to find your happy,” Sarah went on to say. “Notice what you can do rather than what you can’t, and try not to let yourself fall into a dark hole. That said, we’re all works in progress, as I myself constantly worry about the future instead of enjoying the present, which, as cliche as it sounds, is a gift.”

To donate to Sarah’s fundraiser, visit gofundme.com/f/xus4p8-saving-sarah.

Adam Samuel is a journalist from Teaneck. He blogs at www.adamssoapbox.com.