On September 9th 2002 I jumped on the train and waved goodbye to family and loved ones, my 18-year-old naïve self was about to change in more ways than one. 30 weeks of Royal Marines Commando Training was all a blur, constantly wet, cold, exhausted and depleted, I passed out in April as an original member from 838 Troup and able to wear the coveted Green Beret and be part of an elite body of men.
As a Royal Marine in 42 Commando life was good. However, 4 years into my service I developed Ulcerative Colitis. An emergency flight back to the UK from arctic warfare training in Norway in December of 2005, I was rushed into Hospital. I didn’t have a clue about medicine or what this diagnosis would mean for my chosen career or health. There was discussion of removing part of my colon and having to have a stoma bag, however I responded well to medications and managed to keep my Colon but I wouldn’t manage to keep my job or my planned future.
