Service dogs are specially trained to help people with disabilities, including people with Crohn's disease.  Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) service dogs are allowed in public places like restaurants, schools, stores, and airplanes. Service dogs offer emotional support and can help with important tasks that are challenging during episodes of pain or fatigue.  Typical daily tasks that a service dog can be trained to help with  are:

• Carrying heavy items like backpacks or books
• Opening doors
• Switching lights on and off
• Fetching items such as a cellphone 
• Reminding to take a medication

Some patients report that their dogs also can recognize symptoms of a flare, sometimes before their owner does.  Another important benefit of service dogs is that they encourage their owners to be more active. Like all dogs, service dogs need exercise and playing with their owner outdoors is a great way to get it.

Determining whether a service animal is right for your child also requires careful consideration of whether your family is ready to take on the costs, new routines, veterinary care, and special training required to integrate a dog successfully into your home. 

To find out if a service dog might be right for your family, talk to your doctor and consult an accredited member of  Assistance Dogs International.

​Explaining inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to a child is not easy. It's normal for kids to have lots of questions, but sometimes difficult for them to understand the way adults talk about the disease. To help kids learn more about what is going on, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation (CCF) brought together a writer, artists, and medical professionals to create a comic book all about Crohn's and colitis, "Pete Learns All About Crohn's and Colitis." 

The colorful comic includes a glossary of commonly used medical terms, symptoms, and tests, and covers helpful topics such as what the intestines do, tips for taking medications, coping with embarrassing symptoms, and how to talk to friends about the disease.  Reading the comic together is a great way for parents and children to start a conversation about any concerns or questions they have about having IBD.  

A digital version of the comic is available for free on the CCF website.  

Being in the hospital is no fun, but the day is a little brighter when someone shows they care with a thoughtful gift. Any thing that makes the stay more comfortable or help pass the time is welcome.  After spending many months in the hospital I'm somewhat of an expert patient, so I'm sharing here some of the great gifts people sent.