Meet Our Patients

Raquel

The story of Raquel’s life, and living with ulcerative colitis, began in the weeks leading up to her sixth birthday. Things would never be the same. Numerous medical appointments, weekly blood work, and repeated hospitalizations redefined both her lifestyle and that of her family. Now fourteen years old and in ninth grade, Raquel has been coping with UC for the past nine years. She has had a few severe bouts, which landed her in the hospital for weeks at a time. “It is said that one is never given a challenge that they cannot handle, and that adversity builds character,” says Raquel. “Although I did not ask for this disease, and clearly would rather not have it, I accept the challenge, knowing that I can make things better for others.” Raquel has had to deal with issues that most teenagers and the millions of others who suffer with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis should never experience. For this reason, she believes we must find a cure, and with research, modern technology, and funding, that this will be a reality.

Nicholas

Nicholas is an active 10-year-old who loves to play baseball, go camping, and spend time with his friends. But over the past four years he has spent numerous weekends in the hospital undergoing painful tests and treatments for Crohn's disease. When he was initially diagnosed, Nicholas had been bleeding internally for a long time. Nicholas' growing was slowed and he was teased at school when his face became puffed up in reaction to steroidal treatment. As his condition got worse, his parents had to provide him with regular injections in the stomach. All of this left him far from the baseball field, friends, and so many other important parts of his life. Despite the rollercoaster of a ride Nicholas and his family have been through, they stay optimistic that his health will improve and a cure will be found. They are working with CCFA to increase awareness of Crohn's and colitis and focus on their hope that children in the future will not need to go through such tremendous medical difficulties and can just enjoy being kids.

Jami

9-year-old Jami was recently diagnosed with Crohn’s disease after suffering severe stomach pains and dramatically losing weight. Even though she now has to take several different medications on a daily basis to manage her symptoms, Jami continues to maintain straight A’s in school, play sports like golf, and is driven to make a difference in the battle against Crohn’s and colitis. She devotes a tremendous amount of time to working with CCFA so that other children do not have to go through the difficulty she has. When asked why she has become so active, Jamie says, “I want to find a cure for this disease because I'd really like to get better and want to help all the other kids with this disease too.” While she continues to encourage the people around her to remember the 1.4 million American adults and children who are in a need of a cure, she is relying on CCFA to make that dream come true.

Campioli Sisters

In 2008, the Campioli family lost Carolyn (pictured bottom right), a devoted wife and mother, to complications of Crohn's disease. In hopes of raising awareness and advancing the search for a cure, Theresa, Jennifer and Mary (pictured left to right) have been very active within the CCFA community. Alongside their father, Carl (pictured bottom left), these three brave young women are making a difference in honor of their mother and the millions of other Americans fighting with the emotional and physical aspects of these diseases. Carolyn's difficult and painful struggle with Crohn's disease did not stop her from touching the lives of all of those around her. Reflect the sisters, "Despite being sick, she was always was an integral part of our lives and was at the heart of everything we did." The Campioli's steadfast support of CCFA, and other Crohn's and colitis patients, embodies their mother's generous and strong spirit and inspires others to stand up and do the same. It is their hope and belief that through CCFA funded research, medical advances will be made to find a cure for Crohn's and colitis and to improve the quality of life of those inflicted and their families.

Kylie

Kylie is a lively little girl who, having been diagnosed as a baby, has lived nearly her whole life with Crohn's disease. After numerous hospitalizations and treatments, this bubbly 4-year-old is now well enough to play soccer just like other children her age. Her parents are so thankful to see Kylie doing well, but still must go day-to-day not knowing when the disease will once again impact their daughter. They continue to rely on medications that come with serious side effects to keep her disease in remission. Like the other 150,000 children suffering from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Kylie's future depends on advancements in medical research for better treatments.

Frank

Despite traveling down a long road of medicines, misdiagnoses, and flares since his diagnosis of Crohn's disease over 20 years ago, Frank maintains a positive, fighting attitude. He won't let his illness get in the way of doing things he loves, including traveling. He also makes a point of being honest with others about his disease which can be embarrassing and inconvenient at times. Frank understands the emotions that come with living with inflammatory bowel disease and uses that to positively impact others suffering from chronic illness. Frank has authored a children's book on inflammatory bowel disease, writing it as a way to raise awareness and educate children about the feelings brought on by digestive disease. As a licensed psychologist and executive director of a psychological center, Frank helps instill his upbeat outlook in others. He feels confident that CCFA's research can find better treatment options that will allow him to live a more comfortable lifestyle.

Emma

Since being diagnosed with Crohn's disease and undergoing several invasive procedures, 10-year-old Emma hasn't let the ups and downs of living with a chronic disease stop her from enjoying her childhood. Despite having to receive nutrients through a liquid formula directly into her stomach during her past two summer vacations, Emma attended dance camp, rode her bike, bounced on her trampoline, and went swimming. Some days she is tired and in too much pain to play but she still tries to be optimistic. Meeting others who suffer from Crohn's and colitis helps Emma remember that she's not alone, and hosting yard sales and school fundraisers gives her a way to help find a cure. Like thousands of other children she relies on CCFA to fund research so that, in the future, she can lead a symptom-free life.

Megan

Throughout the past six years, Megan, a 17-year-old ulcerative colitis patient, has been through some very difficult times. Having undergone six surgeries and in living with this unpredictable disease, she has missed out on most typical teenage experiences. When not in the hospital because of her illness, Megan succumbed to medication side effects such as bloating, psychosis, sleep deprivation, and overeating. She also had to have her colon surgically removed.

Megan and her family were introduced to others going through similar experiences at a Crohn's & Colitis Foundation support group. With their help, Megan's family was able to advocate on her behalf when she was too sick to attend school. Today, Megan takes pride in the lessons she's learned from living with IBD and willingly shares them with others. She is supporting the Foundation's efforts to find improved treatment options and a cure through her involvement in Foundation events. While a medical cure cannot return Megan's childhood years, it will go a long way in helping her to enjoy an active adulthood while also providing a brighter future for the thousands of children experiencing the problems she once did.

Cole

This 21-year-old college senior went through all of his teenage years suffering from Crohn's disease. He experienced the ups and downs of trying medication after medication throughout this time. Then, after having six inches of his small intestine removed in the fall of 2007, Cole had to withdraw from school for a semester. It took a lot to get back on track, but he is now completing his requirements to graduate with a Communications Degree and feeling much better. He watches what he eats, makes sure he gets enough rest, controls stress, and talks as freely as possible about Crohn's with as many people as he can. Cole strives to maintain a positive attitude about living with a chronic illness-he accepts it and incorporates it in his life. While a cure won't give back Cole's teenage years, research advancements will give him and others like him the power to live a full and healthy adulthood.