Event Description

Come Join us for Jake's Color Run for Eosiniphilic Esophagitis

* Location: Millstone Park 

* Race Date/Time: Sunday 10/16/22 @ 9:00 am 

* Entry Fee: $25 

* Distance: 2km (1.3 miles)

* Reason: Jake Rudolph, suffers from Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a disease that prevents him from eating certain foods. Jake, like thousands of other children who suffer from EoE (Eosiniphilic Esophagitis), he undergoes daily medications, quarterly endoscopies, and on-going doctor's appointments. Research and testing have enabled Jake to eat several foods, where before he could not. There are treatments but currently there is no cure for EOE. 

Eosinophilic esophagitis (e-o-sin-o-FILL-ik uh-sof-uh-JIE-tis) is a rare autoimmune disease in which a type of white blood cell (eosinophil) builds up in the lining of the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach (esophagus). This buildup, which is a reaction to foods, allergens or acid reflux, can inflame or injure the esophageal tissue. Damaged esophageal tissue can lead to difficulty swallowing or cause food to get stuck when you swallow, or if left untreated the esophagus can close. 

* Benefits: Eosinophilic Esophagitis Research at the Mt. Sinai Center for Eosiniphilic Disorders (MSCED) in NY, NY. All money raised from this event will go to assist EoE research at Mt. Sinai.

*Jake's Story: Jake started his EOE journey as an infant.  Every formula we tried resulted in vomiting and severe tummy aches.  After seeing multiple specialists, Jake was prescribed a specialized formula (which smelled like cheese doodles..yuck) that Jake could tolerate and thrive from.  When table foods were introduced at 1 year old, we held our breath to see if Jake would get sick from eating. All was good for a few months, but that did not last.  Jake started to vomit randomly... before meals, during meals, after meals.  We kept a journal of everything he ate and when he ate it.  There was no specific time, food or pattern to this. Multiple allergy tests were all negative. A swallow study revealed normal findings.  Reflux medication did not help.  

As a Speech Language Pathologist and Feeding therapist myself, I knew this was not right. My suspicions were correct, Jake was diagnosed with Eosiniphilic Esophagitis at 18 months old.  We know that there were "trigger foods" that caused this...but what were Jake's trigger foods?...we did not know. We tried elimination diets.  At one point Jake was on a top 6 elimination diet:  no wheat, milk, egg, nuts, soy, fish and shellfish. Every few months, undergoing an endoscopic study and praying for good results. But results remained the same, a large number of Eosiniphils in his esophagus.  A decision had to be made....Remove all foods and place Jake on a specialized formula at 3 years old or start medication.  For his quality of life, we chose the medication, a swallowed steroid.  And it worked! With the help of his amazing team at Mt. Sinai Hospital, especially Dr. Chehade, Jake was able to eat what he wanted without getting sick. He was the happiest kid...eating everything his twin brother could eat...ice cream, grilled cheese...all of his favorites.  

Unfortunately Jake's body "got used to the medicine" and it stopped working.  Dr. Chehade worked with us on a new plan.  We increased his medication. We knew the risks of steroids including impacting his growth.  With the help of endocrinologists we made the decision to increase his medication. Yearly endoscopies showed that Jake was doing great. This lasted for the next few years.... until symptoms started again. Jake would say "Mommy, I feel like something is stuck in my throat". And just like that I knew EOE flares ups were back.  But this time, eosiniphils were found in his stomach and intenstines.  More medication, more endoscopies, more elimination diets. 

Thanks to Dr. Chehade, today Jake is now doing well with a low dairy diet and medications.  He is due for another endoscopy next year to make sure his stomach, intestines, and esophagus are clear of eospiniphils.  Through it all, Jake is always amazing. He knows everything about his EOE and says it makes him special because it is a rare condition.  Jake has always been interested in helping other children with EOE. He donates his blood to Mt. Sinai for research and recently asked if we can raise money for Dr. Chehade to "help find a cure".  So here we are today.....hosting a Color Run to raise money for research, for a cure, and for all the children and families suffering from EOE.