Honorees

Pam Barclay

Pam’s Story…..

2008 marked an important anniversary for me. It was in October that I celebrated not only my 27th birthday, but also living longer with Colitis than without it. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis shortly after my 13th birthday. I lived the next two years of my life spending more time in the hospital than in school and more time with doctors than with my family. After responding poorly to all possible treatments, including experimental medications, surgery became the only option for me. At the age of 15, weighing less than 70 pounds and measuring just over 4feet tall, I underwent my first major surgery to remove my diseased colon. This was however not the last time that I would face down IBD. In 2005, my younger brother Matt was diagnosed with colitis and in November of 2008, 14 years after my diagnosis, my identical twin Sara was diagnosed (I’m on the right in the photo). 

With the support of my family, I have been on a mission to not only increase awareness about Crohn’s and colitis, but to also connect with others who have been affected by IBD. I have been blessed to have a “dream job” working for CCFA and the Team Challenge program working to break the silence that often surrounds these chronic diseases!