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crohn’s disease

For Conner and his family, the path to a Crohn’s disease diagnosis came unexpectedly. Conner, an active 11-year-old, was living life to the fullest until sudden symptoms disrupted his world. Stomach pain, rapid weight loss, and an inability to have a bowel movement led Conner to the emergency room. After initial treatment, he was transferred to a local hospital, where an endoscopy and colonoscopy in September 2023 confirmed the diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Conner’s mom, Charity, shares that the abrupt change in her son’s health was unanticipated. “He was very active right up until about a week before he was hospitalized,” she shared, reflecting on how sudden the symptoms appeared. After diagnosis, Conner and his family were referred to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, by their local physician. There, they found a team of specialists ready to support Conner through every step of his journey. Under the care of Dr. Palomo, […]

Jessica, 12-year-old Billy’s mother, recalls the summer of 2022 when they noticed something unusual during their family getaway. “While on vacation, we discovered he had an anal fistula,” she recounts. In April of the following year, Billy experienced his first flare-up, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Located in their hometown, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida became a regular visit for Jessica and Billy. “We have lived in Lake Nona for over 11 years,” says Jessica, so they were already familiar with the Nemours Children’s location. From the moment they stepped through the doors, they were greeted by a team of dedicated professionals led by gastroenterologist Dr. Pablo Palomo. Reflecting on their experiences with the Nemours team, Jessica highlights the genuine care and compassion in each interaction. “Billy’s liked everyone he’s ever interacted with,” says Jessica. “My favorite thing about them is how special they make me feel, even […]

Contributed by Darcy Galnor, whose daughter is a patient of Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville. The morning our daughter was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease started like any other. We woke up as just a regular young(ish) couple with two kids, jobs and life’s typical stressors. (I guess maybe not entirely typical, unless taking our 5-year-old daughter for a colonoscopy is considered an everyday event). We’d been chasing the cause of her diarrhea for months, maybe even years. Dairy? Nope. Gluten? Nope. Strawberries (her favorite food)? Nope. As we sat in the waiting room, anxiously watching for the doctor to tell us the results, we attempted to distract ourselves with work. Both of us had tablets rested on our thighs, cell phones on the arms of our chaisr. My husband downing coffee. Me biting my nails. Then, the doctor appeared. “She has inflammation throughout most of her GI tract. We’ll wait […]