Three Kansas City nurses go above
and beyond to save lives, off the clock. Christy Crump of Gastrointestinal
Associates, along with Deanna Porter and Ellen Carpenter of Children’s Mercy
Hospital-Main Campus, never stop working toward a cure for Crohn’s Disease and
Ulcerative Colitis.
The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
of America (CCFA) is an interactive resource for those suffering from
unpredictable and life-altering Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). CCFA raises
millions of dollars each year to offer support, education, and ultimately, find
a cure for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Porter began working in a pediatric
unit, which specializes in caring for children with IBD about seven years ago.
Five years later, her younger brother was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. These
life experiences lead Porter to Team Challenge, a fundraising and endurance
training program for CCFA.
“Joining Team Challenge was my
first exposure to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and it’s mission to both
find a cure and improve the quality of life for those affected by these
diseases,” she said.
“Even as a nurse working
specifically with Crohn’s and Colitis patients, I found that very few of the
nurses I worked with were familiar with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation,”
said Porter. “So, in joining Team Challenge, training for a half marathon and
raising funds, I have been able to tell my coworkers, family members and friends
about CCFA and all the ways the foundation supports those affected by Crohn’s
or Colitis.”
Crump’s interest in the foundation
began with her work for GI specialists in Overland Park.
“That is primarily my patient
population. We see a lot of patients with Crohn’s and Colitis. I’ve got a very
personal connection to these people,” said Crump.
Crump has been fundraising for CCFA
for several years. She began aiding the foundation when she first participated
in Take Steps, CCFA’s largest and most continuously successful fundraising
event.
“Through the office we have done
the walk for probably three years in a row,” she said. “Mostly, we do lots of fundraising leading up
to the Take Steps walks.”
Crump has also recently joined Team
Challenge alongside her husband Mike, and will participate in the half marathon
in Napa, California, on July 15, 2012. The couple has far exceeded their
fundraising goal.
Carpenter cares for IBD patients not
only at Children’s Mercy, but also at the Springfield Outreach Clinic. She
believes the biggest impact CCFA has on her young patients is Camp Oasis. Camp
Oasis is CCFA’s safe camp community for children with IBDs to connect and build
lifelong, supportive friendships.
Each year, Carpenter participates
in camp check-in with a group of other local clinic nurses. They assist the
campers in boarding the bus with all of the proper forms and medications, to
ensure a stress-free week.
“Spending a week with other kids
with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis is transformative for many of our
young people,” said Carpenter. “They come back from camp more knowledgeable and
confident in their ability to care for themselves. The friends they make help
them know they are not alone or different after all.”
Porter agreed, “One thing every patient
needs to know is that they are not alone. The Crohn’s and Colitis foundation
continues to work hard to fund research, promote awareness, and provide support
and education so that one day a cure may be found and their pain and suffering
will end.”
Roughly 1.5 million people in the
United States suffer from an IBD. While this affected community is a large
portion of the population, many patients still have a difficult time
comprehending the disease.
Crump noted, “It’s important for
them to understand their disease state. We see newly diagnosed patients and
sometimes, especially in the younger patients, they are in denial. They don’t
want to accept that this is going to be an ongoing chronic condition and it’s
important early on for them to research, read, learn about their body and learn
how to best deal with the disease.”
All three nurses dedicate much of
their time to aiding the foundation. Local CCFA representative, Danielle
Russell is filled with gratitude toward Kansas City nurses.
“CCFA is blessed to have not only
dedicated but passionate nurses working to share our mission here in Kansas
City,” said Russell. “They are an intangible resource for providing hope to our
patients and for that we couldn’t be more grateful.”
For more information about Team
Challenge or CCFA, please call 646-430-0806 or visit: http://www.ccteamchallenge.org/Teams/TeamChallengeKansasCity.htm.
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