Ulcerative Colitis: Health Story

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, October 8 and December 31, 2005
Show 226

"I couldn't bend my joints. I needed help with everything," says fourteen-year-old Clary Mackenzie who suffers from ulcerative colitis.

"Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the lining of the large intestine," says Dr. Dennis P. Lund, Surgeon-In-Chief at UW Children's Hospital. Symptoms include fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite. Medication such as prednisone usually keeps colitis under control. But the medication didn't agree with Clary.

"My face would get red and puffy and people made fun of me," she says.

"Kids become isolated from their peers because they have so much to deal with," says pediatric nurse practitioner, Muggs Helin.

"Her last bad flare-up pushed us into surgery. Afterwards, people immediately feel better," says Dr. Lund. In this major, two-part surgery, the large intestine and the rectum are removed and the small intestine is refashioned to create a new rectum.

"She came in depressed and now she's happy-go-lucky," says Muggs.

"My life has changed," says Clary.