Welcome To Crohns Core

As CCFA’s honored hero, Kady is raising awareness by asking her community to help find a cure for her disease and participate in the annual walk and festival - Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis - to be held at the State Capitol on May 1, 2010 at 5:00pm. With walks happening across the nation, Take Steps is the largest event dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life of those adults affected by these seldom-discussed diseases. Crohn’s and colitis, two painful, chronic diseases of the digestive tract (often referred to as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)) affect over 1.4 million Americans, prohibiting many day-to-day activities. The diseases interrupt the ability to attend school, play sports, work, or sustain interpersonal relationships. Crohn’s disease occurs in people of all ages, but is primarily diagnosed during the prime of life in adolescents and young adults.

Kady was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease three years ago. In addition to surviving high school and being a teenager, Kady’s life was abruptly interrupted by intense stomach pain, rapid weight loss, vomiting, nausea, and fatigue. As a result, Kady was forced to miss school frequently and found herself faced with depression. "It was and still is the hardest thing I have ever been through," Kady says. After meeting with her physician, Kady quickly learned that she might need a blood transfusion and was severely anemic. She continued to lose weight, a total of 80 pounds. Too sick to leave the house, Kady began losing her friends and the life she’d always known. After enduring a colonoscopy and endoscopy, two very invasive and uncommon procedures for someone her age, Kady learned she might have colitis. After further investigation, doctors diagnosed her with Crohn’s disease. Kady was placed on a rollercoaster of medications, many of which had little, or even adverse effects. She was given steroids which caused fluid retention and facial swelling, embarrassment to add to her unrelenting symptoms.

After six months of painful enemas, countless prescriptions, and strictly watching her diet, Kady found her health improving. She started going out with friends again, laughing again, and even earned her diploma. Kady still experiences the ups and downs of her disease, becoming very sick at times, undergoing severe treatments, and taking high doses of medication. But she hasn’t stopped fighting. With her family, friends, and long-time boyfriend, Art, by her side, Kady has channeled her pain into action. Everyday, she is more and more motivated to beat Crohn’s disease. To get out the word, Kady began a website, providing a local forum to discuss Crohn’s and colitis. She began designing stickers, collecting cans, and hosting benefits to raise money for a cure. In 2009, Kady’s Take Steps team, "Crohns Core", raised over $2,200, only a portion of the total donations she’s secured for CCFA’s research efforts. And, most recently, Kady has spread the word virally about her disease, posting Youtube videos of her most recent treatments and pushing for a segment on MTV.

Crohn’s disease will be with Kady for the rest of her life, but she remains hopeful that, through the efforts of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and her own strong voice, a cure will soon be found. To support and participate in Sacramento’s Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk, visit