Honorees
Julie Evans
Honored Hero
Julie is a normal, active 20 year old woman. She is in school, has a boyfriend, loves to run, kickbox, and lift weights. But it hasn’t always been such a happy story. When Julie was 14, she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and was put on prednisone for over a year, had to take about 25 pills a day and take Remicade infusions. Eventually she had to stop going to volleyball practice, and then school, and then could not eat or even walk. She had to be tube fed for two weeks before finally deciding to have her colon removed.
Volleyball used to be a big part of Julie’s life, but it was one thing she had to give up because of ulcerative colitis. Her disease took over her life for two years, and she had to live every day with the pain and embarrassment associated with the disease.
Julie has been lucky to have a strong support system through her illness. Her family stayed with her in the hospital, friends visited, and her room was overflowing with balloons, cards, stuffed animals, and flowers. Camp Oasis was also a big help to Julie. It is a place for kids with IBD to go and be able to be regular kids for a week.
One reason that Julie wants a cure to be found is that someday she will have kids and not have to worry about them suffering as she did. Her future plans are to become a chemist, and work with organic foods and natural supplements so that people can feel better and make people aware of the harmful things that they are putting into their bodies.
updated 7/28/10/10