Honorees

Ryan was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in November 2012 at the age of 13, after several months of pain and suffering.  Ryan loves to play baseball and his illness nearly ruined our trip to a baseball tournament in South Carolina last summer.  He was losing weight and strength and suffering.   In the Fall, after many tests, the GI finally diagnosed Ryan with Crohn’s and put him on Prednisone and other drugs (over 10 pills a day!).  He has gained weight and is feeling better, but he is still small and not as strong as his teammates.  As a teenage boy, size and strength are a source of pride (or embarrassment) and his condition has made him self-conscious. We are moving from Prednisone to 6MP soon with the hopes that Ryan will continue to feel good (without too many side effects) and that he will catch up to his buddies.   Ryan also loves to eat so this is a cruel disease for him to have.  We hope there is a cure in his lifetime.