Welcome.... Lexington's Honored Hero

Lexington, Kentucky – March 7, 2011 – Maizie’s Schwarz deals with her Crohn’s Disease like a champion. Diagnosed the summer of 2010—just two days before her 13th birthday—she took the news amazingly well and continues to live life with gusto.

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.”

Louisville's Local Honored Hero, Nick Winters!

NICK WINTERS INSPIRES LOUISVILLE TO TAKES STEPS TO FIGHT DIGESTIVE DISEASES

Nick Winters from Fern Creek is inspiring people in the Louisville area to participate in the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Take Steps. Nick Winters is not alone in his struggle with Crohn’s Disease, nor is he your typical 16 year-old. Nick, who suffered from the painful symptoms at a very young age, was diagnosed at age 11. Over the last five years he’s endured several medical therapies which eventually stop working to rein in the pain he suffers on a daily basis. Yet Nick manages to face his life head in a positive way.

Due to growth delays associated with the disease Nick is not very athletic, and he misses a lot of days from school. However, he is smart and focuses his efforts on his education. He is an avid history lover with a special interest in the Military and law enforcement, and is an active member of his ROTC at Male High School.

According to Tessa, Nick’s mom, “He has good days and bad days, but he never complains and he has a great attitude. God gave my son the right temperament and personality to deal with his daily struggles, which is a benefit to conquering this disease.”

“To me the ‘walk’ is very important. It is a chance to spread the word about Crohn’s and Colitis and hopefully raise some money to fight it,” said Nick. “I feel very proud to be the honored hero for Louisville and I hope to be able to inspire people to do something to help the cause for fighting Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis in their city. I hope that awareness and money is raised by this event. The only way to find a cure is to have events like these to support research. If we have no awareness, we have no hope in fighting this horrible disease and finding a cure. I want to live to enjoy the cure when it is found.”

Join Nick is his fight against Crohn’s http://online.ccfa.org/goto/nickwinters

Meet Lexington's Honored Hero, Jason

Sometimes you know when some things are not quite right, and sometimes you know when things are perfectly pleasant. That’s my life with Crohn’s Disease and this is my story.

I was always active as a kid, but one day while visiting my grandparents, I fell ill. It was subtle at first, but by the time the day ended I was lying in a hospital in agonizing abdominal pain. Three days later, feeling like the 14 year old I was, I was released from the hospital with what doctors said was mono.

Fast forward to 19 years later.

Over the years I developed poor health habits. Not much exercise, a fairly poor diet, and the everyday stresses of operating and owning a business. About the same time, I fell for a beautiful girl that had recently come back into my life. Rachelle was an old high school classmate. After 15 years of no communication, a popular online networking website brought us together again. As we got to know each other again, Rachelle became concerned with my health, and for good reason.

On most occasions throughout my life I was fine after eating a meal. Sometimes, though, not long after a meal, my abdomen would roll and swell as my food digested. I knew something was not right, as the occurrences became almost an everyday event. Even when I was vacationing with Rachelle on the night that I proposed to her in New York City, I felt the effects and was not feeling well, on what should have been the perfect night.

Then it happened.

The last weekend in September of 2009, as Rachelle and I settled into our new home together, I became increasingly uncomfortable due to pain in my abdomen. By the time the weekend ended I was in the hospital. The doctors were obviously concerned and ran tests to find a cause. Not long after stabilizing my condition, the diagnosis was Crohn’s Disease. After learning this, it all became clear that I was living with Crohn’s most of my life and didn’t know. Fortunately I avoided surgery, and with great doctors I am in remission with the help of drug therapy.
Unfortunately, at the time of my admission into the hospital I did not have health insurance. With the expense I accrued and the potential expense of future therapy I was looking at a difficult financial road. Realizing the magnitude of the situation, Rachelle stepped in and made the suggestion that changed everything. The week following a 6 day stay in the hospital Rachelle became my wife at the local courthouse.

After enrolling in Rachelle’s employer’s health insurance plan, things have dramatically changed. With the support of my new wife, Rachelle, drug therapy, a healthy diet, and the reduction of stress, life has been good. I continue to educate myself on all of the issues and on Crohn’s itself. I’ve learned that life with Crohn’s doesn’t necessarily have to be difficult and it can be managed.

Now a lot of my times are perfectly pleasant!