Colin Sweetland, 11, is now enjoying the typical life of a fifth-grader — looking forward to when the bell rings at 3 p.m. so he can play with friends or rush home to practice his chess moves, the trombone or strum his guitar.But Colin has experienced and survived an ordeal most young children have not. now, approximately three years into recovery from surgery for ulcerative colitis, Colin began experiencing severe symptoms from the disease in 2006, when he was just 6 years old. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are digestive disorders of the intestines. The illnesses are also collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is the inflammation of the inner lining of the colon (or large intestine), while Crohn’s disease effects all layers of the intestines and may occur in both the small intestine and colon. according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, an estimated 1.4 million Americans summer from the IBD and approximately 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. But thanks to a surgery Colin underwent in December 2007, Colin is all but cured from a disease that caused anemia, severe abdominal pain and rapid weight loss, among other symptoms. Colin’s Mom, Heidi Sweetland, said that by the time Colin had his surgery, he was down to 45 pounds, suffering form frequent abdominal pain and was so anemic he had had three blood transfusions. “He was in a lot of pain,” Sweetland said, adding that it was also taking a toll on her. “To sit there and watch your child suffer with this disease and not be able to do anything is unbearable,” Sweetland. “I felt so helpless.”
COLIN SWEETLAND, 11 of Laconia, who suffered from ulcerative colitis and is in recovery from that major surgery, has taught himself how to play chess and guitar. DARYL CARLSON/ CITIZEN PHOTO
Click here to view Foster’s prints for sale In may, Colin and his Mom will participate for the third time in the “Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis,” walk held in Manchester each year, benefiting the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. The walk is on may 14. Registration begins at 4 p.m. a Derryfield Park in Manchester and walk begins at 5:30 p.m. This year marks the third year Colin and his Mom are participating in the walk, which averages between 400 and 500 participants each year. for the past few years, Colin has been an “Honored Local Hero,” during the walk. But this will mark the first year Colin will kick off the walk by giving a speech. Money raised for the walk goes toward the Foundation’s research as well summer camp programs for children with IBD. To that end, on April 12, from 5 to 9 p.m., there is a fundraiser for Colin and the walk at Patrick’s Pub and Eatery in Gilford. Anyone who goes to the pub during those hours and mentions the fundraiser will have 50 percent of their bill donated to the walk. according to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America The cause if IBD is unknown. Sweetland said genetics may play role, but it could also be caused by bacteria or viruses. “That’s why we need money for more research” Sweetland said. The Foundation said that approximately 20 percent of people with IBD have another family members with disease. Symptoms of IBD range from mild to severe, including life-threatening symptoms.Symptoms include persistent diarrhea; abdominal pain or cramps; blood passing from the rectum; fever and weight loss; joint, skin or eye irritation; and delayed growth is children. both of the diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s, are unpredictable, with some patients suffering a single attack and then going into remission for years, while others require frequent hospitalizations or surgery. Without proper treatment symptoms may worsen and cause serious complications such as abscesses, obstructions, malnutrition and anemia. Colon cancer is also more likely to develop for people suffering from long-term ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease of the whole colon.While Crohn’s is incurrable, there are medications that can alleviate inflammation and reduce symptoms.according to the Foundation, common IBD medications are corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and 5-ASA preparations, such as sulfasalazine and newer versions of the drug that have fewer side effects. Antibiotics are sometimes for Crohn’s disease affecting the colon. Ulcerative Colitis can often be cured by surgery. Sweetland, said that when Colin was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in the summer of 2006, he had been suffering from worsening symptoms for several months.”He was rushed to hospital,” Sweetland said, after his father, who is divorced from Sweetland, discovered blood in his stool. a year-and-a-half later, when Colin was eight, he underwent a colectomy. a colectomy is the surgical removal of the colon, cures ulcerative colitis.according to the Mayo Clinic, Ileoanal pouch anastomosis (more commonly called J-pouch surgery) is newest form colectomy and it allows patients to not have to have a permanent outside colostomy bag. It involves removing the large intestine (or colon) and taking a portion of the small investing and turning into a pouch to hold the body’s waste until it can eliminated normally.Sweetland said now, roughly three years after the surgery, Colin’s symptoms are all but cured. he still has to take anti-diarrhea medication, and he is more prone to infection.he also takes fiber supplements. But this nothing compared to amount of medications he had to take just after surgery. Sweetland said Colin was on some 30 different types of medication. The Surgery was done at Massachusetts General Hospital, Sweetland said, praising the doctor who did it. Colin could not eat regular food for three-and-a-half weeks after the surgery, so Sweetland said he devoted his first meal of crackers. Sweetland said while he was at hospital, before an after the surgery, he met many other children with the disease. until then, she said she and her son were not aware of too many other children with the disease. “That’s why we now do the walk, to help inform people about IBD and that effects thousands of people, including hundreds of children in the new England area. she said for both children and adults, it’s disease that no one talks about because of the type o symptoms involved, which some consider embarrassing. “It’s the silent disease nobody wants to talk about,” Sweetland said.