Nancy Lynn could have easily let her daily symptoms get the best of her. She’s living with ileitis, a type of Crohn’s disease, but throughout her life she has persevered and about four years ago received a gift that is an unending supply of unconditional inspiration.

photo courtesy of Nancy Lynn Director of corporate relations for the American Museum of Natural History, Nancy Lynn, has been living with ileitis for 35 years.

At the age of 11, Lynn endured early symptoms of ileitis and within a year had an infection in her intestine, which prompted the first of many major surgeries. Demarest resident Lynn, 47, is the director of corporate relations for the American Museum of Natural History and is able to see science at work firsthand, which gives her hope that each day marks a step closer to finding a cure.

"With this disease I’ve had trouble having a child, but four years ago when I had my daughter it was a motivating experience," said Lynn. "Also what could be cooler than working at a natural history museum? But it is much more than that; life is short."

Lynn vividly remembers missing her Columbia University graduation, where she was valedictorian, due to surgery. Fortunately the disease wasn’t severe enough from 2003 to 2007 to keep Lynn out of traveling with exhibits for the museum, as she has visited several on six continents. Lynn has seen the world especially remembering visits to Korea, Australia, Singapore, Japan, South America and Europe.

"It’s an overwhelming thought to think about it all and I was very driven," said Lynn. "For years I tried to pretend I wasn’t sick and I wanted to live a normal life. I don’t know why sometimes I had that fight in me. I always knew I had to do something productive, especially in the sciences."

The Demarest resident and mother has flourished in her 10 years of service at the American Museum of Natural History and in 2003 became the director of traveling programs for a newly established business development division. Last July, Lynn took the position as the director of corporate relations.

"There’s 200 scientist researchers at the museum and we’re the first museum in the Western Hemisphere that’s credited for a degree in genetic research," said Lynn. "Even though I don’t work directly with them, I feel a strong connection."

Lynn is doing especially exceptional work that the Greater New York Chapter Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America will recognize at the Fifteenth Annual Women of Distinction Luncheon April 30.

"Up until now I have not gone public and have tried to cover up my disease," said Lynn. "I’ve been able to work for 10 years and it’s nice to be recognized as a sort of poster child that has had a fulfilling career with this disease."

Lynn is very gracious and humble in receiving this award, but on top of it all she is appreciative of the foundation’s desire to not only educate the public, but also fund the research for finding a cure.

"This foundation is critical not only to finding a cure, but also the deep research could reach a breakthrough on a broader sense of disease to give us more of a medical understanding on the topic," said Lynn.

There is also a sense of surprise in her voice as she sees herself as an atypical candidate.

"I am extremely touched and impressed because I am not the typical honoree that could tell their vendors to buy tickets or donate money," said Lynn. "I was surprised, since I work for a not-for-profit organization."

Since 1967 when the foundation was started, over $100 million has been donated to basic research and the awareness level of this disease has increased.

"I feel like more people know what the disease is and when I mention it to people they always tell me that I or someone is affected by it," said Lynn. "In raising the consciousness that’s the true result from the foundation."

Tickets for the Women Distinction luncheon range from $395 to $2,500. The event will start at 11:30 a.m., April 30. CBS News correspondent Lesley Stahl will also be honored. For more information, call the Greater New York Chapter at 212-679-1570.

Lynn is an ideal example of how despite living with a disease, life is truly precious and the driven power of motivation and hope can prevail.

"My message is to not give up and my advice would be to put together a very good support system on the medical, psychological and emotional side of it," said Lynn. "Take very good care of yourself and with that and luck you can have a productive life."

E-mail: cheung@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6709