Meet the Iowa Chapter's 2010 Take Steps Honorary Hero, Nicholas Bowers!

  Nicholas loves sports. So when Nicholas was 3 he started  playing baseball, basketball, and as he got older football quickly became another favorite. He started playing USSSA baseball at the the age of 7, tackle football when he was 8, and basketball in between.
In November of 2007 I started to notice Nicholas appetite decrease, and he complained of stomach aches. One evening Nicholas was complaing of chest pains, so off to the ER we went. They took X - Rays of his abdomen, did some blood work, but nothing was showing up.  Nicholas had stomach pain off and on for the next several months, but in April of 2008 he again had loss of appetite, was becoming weak, having fevers of 105 periodically , and again stomach pain. None of this got him down, especially on the baseball field. Nicholas was pitching and he barely had enough strength to get back to the dug out when he was done. Then in the next few  weeks Nicholas lost 20 pounds, which took him down to 52 pounds. He had severe stomach pain, couldn't eat or drink.
Nicholas was in the hospital for 4 days and missed a USSSA Baseball Tournament. They decided to call in a Pediatric GI Specialist, and on May 15th 2008 Nicholas was diagnosed with Crohns Disease.  Nicholas has never let this disease get him down, and this is why his goal,  along with all of his family and friends, is to raise awareness  about Crohns and Colitis so others with IBD will know  they are not alone.

Please note: All support group listings are subject to change. Please call the chapter number above to confirm the meeting date, time, and place. 

IBD Center Support Group, Des Moines

Meets at:

Mercy Medical Education Center
1111 Sixth Avenue
Des Moines 50314

East Education Center - A Level Conference Room #4

The First Tuesday of each quarter: March, June, September and December 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Facilitator:
-Rhonda Fingerman 515-643-8528, rfingerman@mercydesmoines.org

Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Support Group Schedule

Meets at:

Mercy Medical Center
701 - 10th Street SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Marron Classroom

Meets every other month on the 4th Wednesday in January, March, May, September and the 3rd Wednesday in November @ 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Nov.18, 2009

Dr. Nile S. Dusdieker, CR, gastroenterologist with Internists PC, will be our guest speaker. His topic will be New Interventions in IBD care.

Wednesday January 27, 2009

We will be meeting at the Edgewood Rd. Hy-vee for a tour and discussion with the dietician.

Facilitators: 
- Terri Liedtke, RN 319-396-6647, TPLTPO1@aol.com
- Jan Monk, PT  319-393-7876, janetamonk@aol.com 

Support group meetings are free of charge. Family and friends are encouraged to attend.

Waterloo Support Group Schedule

Meets at:

Allen Hospital
1825 Logan Avenue
Waterloo, IA 50703

Allen Hospital South Dining Room, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 5th- 6:30 p.m.:
Srinivas Kalala, M.D., Gastroenterologist, Cedar Valley Medical Specialists, P.C.
"Questions about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis"

Facilitators:
- Barb Burkle, ARNP 319-230-7528, burkleb@msn.com 
- Brenda Collins, 319-235-3823

Dress is casual and refreshments are served.

Support group meetings are free of charge. Family and friends are encouraged to attend.

Quad Cities Support Group Schedule

Meets at:

Genesis West Medical Center
1401 W. Central Park
Davenport, IA 52804

Sunderbrunch Room- Located on the South Side of the Genesis West Medical Center Complex. Use the visitors door and go straight ahead directly down the hall to the Sunderbrunch Room, 6:30 p.m.


Next Meeting TBA

Facilitators:
- Erika Schmidt 563-324-3371  
  

Support group meetings are free of charge. Family and friends are encouraged to attend.

Iowa Chapter Board : TBD

Iowa Chapter Contact Information:
CCFA Iowa Chapter
iowa@ccfa.org
Phone: (402) 505-9901