Lauren at Duke Children's Hospital for a Remicade Infusion

My little sister, Lauren, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was eleven. She is amazing as she copes with this frustrating and difficult disease.

During the pandemic, while also suffering from depression, her body was no longer responding well to the Remicade treatment. She underwent another series of diagnostic procedures resulting in her physician changing her medication to Stelara. Despite this change, her body was responsive to the drug in all but one area, resulting months later in surgery to remove the diseased section. Since her surgery, the Stelara regiment appears to have put her Crohn's into remission.

I hope research can find a cure for this autoimmune condition and reduce the impact on my sister's life.

Interesting Articles/Links

Specific Fatty Acids May Worsen Crohn’s DiseaseNew software allows scientists to link different human diseases and traits through the genetic variations they share. Photo credit – Liuyang Wang, Dennis Ko lab Some research has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fish oils, can relieve inflammation in Crohn’s disease.

Targeting the Gut-Brain Connection Can Impact ImmunityThere’s a reason it’s called a gut feeling. The brain and the gut are connected by intricate neural networks that signal hunger and satiety, love and fear, even safety and danger. These networks employ myriad chemical signals that include dopamine, a powerful neurotransmitter most famous for its role in reward and addiction. Duke University researchers have shown that manipulating dopamine signaling in the nervous system of the nematode worm C. elegans can control inflammation in the gut.

Crohn's and Colitis Support | Connecting to Cure Crohn's and ColitisConnecting to Cure Crohn's and Colitis unites the IBD community to promote public awareness about Crohn's and colitis, to fund research for new treatments and cures, and to support patients and their families living with these chronic illnesses.

Researchers Discover Molecular Trigger of Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseCells lining the intestinal tract form a critical barrier, protecting our bodies from the billions of bacteria living in the gut. Breaches in this barrier are driven largely by a single signaling molecule called tumor necrosis factor (TNF), elevated amounts of which are associated with inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Girls With GutsThe mission of Girls With Guts is to empower women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease & ulcerative colitis) and ostomies to share their stories of confidence and to promote self-esteem.

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