A Writer's (And Family) Life Interrupted #crohns #crohnsdisease #uc #genetictesting

Is there anyone out there who is interested in doing genetic testing on my family? Seriously, I have Crohn's, the daughter has UC, and the son has indeterminate colitis, gastritis, etc. I would give anything to find out if we have the same broken gene in common. There has to be someone somewhere who is interested in immediate family genetic testing and yes, we are all willing to figure this out together.

Growing up, the kids didn't live on junk food. They ate their veggies, meat, potatoes and desert. Processed foods were in our diets through cookies and ice cream and the random Mac and Cheese and bean burritos. But it wasn't like we were fast food junkies.

So, what happened environmentally that convinced this gene to express itself in all three of us?

Did food set it off or is it a weird food allergy?

Is it some kind of antibiotic resistance?

Is it somehow related to the gall bladder as both my son and myself have had it removed?

Perhaps a bile reaction?

Water?

I have so many questions. If could run the DNA myself I would. This weirdness has to point somewhere.

Right now, both my kids are sick. I would gladly take it from them if I could. My daughter is on Prednisone, my son is up to 3-4 PPIs per day and Lomotil as needed. I am on some PPI that is way more than I could afford if I didn't meet my deductible every January because of Remicade.

The other day I asked my daughter how she felt.

"Fine," was her answer.

"But you're not fine," I said.

"Well," she said. "If this is to be my life I might as well be fine as anything else."

The sad part was that I got it.  I understood what she meant.

And that's damn sad.

Please, find a cure.