Despite losing 25 pounds and dealing with difficult pain and anemia, Maizie continued on a mission trip with her church group to Tennessee where she worked on homes for the needy people. She also participated in two weeks of strenuous band camp for her high school marching band. Upon her return home she found she had developed several abscesses in her intestines.
In the months that followed, Maizie had a variety of doctor’s appointments—which often required drinking nasty liquids— being probed and poked, photographed, talked at and generally feeling exhausted. However, Maizie does not act like a victim.
“I choose to go on with my life and continue to take part in the stuff I enjoy doing. Band is a huge part of my life and I don’t ever want to let down the team by not continuing to work as hard as I can.”
According to Maizie’s mom Amy Schwarz, “Maizie deals with her disease fiercely. I never heard her say, ‘Why did this happen to me?’ She never uses her disease as an excuse and she constantly maintains a positive attitude and fighting spirit.”
Since her initial diagnosis only five months ago, she has had two rounds of PICC line IV antibiotics, a handful of different medications, and finally an ileostomy.
"As I walked away from her sitting in that hospital bed just a couple of weeks ago,” said Amy, “both of us knowing that she was getting ready to enter into surgery with no clear results, she smiled and told me everything would be okay. To me, those are the words of a true hero.”
Maizie is inspiring other people in Lexington area to participate in the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Kentucky Chapter ‘s Take Steps Walk on Saturday May 14, 2011 at 4:00p in Lexington on the Legacy Trail and Coldstream Park Trailhead.
“I am so glad that there are fundraisers like this one to help fund the research being done in the Crohn’s and Colitis field. It is important that awareness is raised about these diseases.”
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