My name is Ben and I am 12 years old and in April  2014, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis a bowel condition that can devastate lives and there's no known cure.

I had been poorly for a few weeks and my mum had taken me to the doctors on a number of occasions. My mum struggled to get me in to see my consultant as the receptionist said my 1 year open appointment had expired. Eventually with persuasion we got to see him at Burton Hospital. There I was given some medicine to take and I would see him again in Derby Children's the following week.

The medicine hadn't changed anything I was still in a lot of pain, very pale and was rushing to the toilet. There he said I had got to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy as an emergency as I was a very poorly boy. Later that day after I had been into theatre I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. I was given different medicines to take and one of them was a steroid. We was hopeful this would work but little did we know this was only the beginning....

After 3 days I still wasn't getting any better and I was in agony. My mum and dad decided to take me to the Children's A & E as they was very worried. There they decided to admit me for 24 hours, have a intravenous drip of Steroids and hopefully this would do the job. I was taken onto Puffin Ward where I was looked after by the nurses, but then I caught another infection in my bowel. I had to be isolated as it was very contagious. The doctors where struggling with what to do as all the medicines they gave me didn't work. I had been at Derby for 1 week and I was no better. They said I was to be transferred to Nottingham QMC as they knew more about my condition there. I was so upset and frightened and I didn't want to go. My mum reassured me it was for the best but at 10 years old I was scared.

I arrived at Nottingham and the hospital was huge. I was taken onto the ward and put in a side room. Within 30 minutes I had a doctor by my side asking all kinds of questions. I was given different medication and I had to have it in the night too as I was very ill. All the nurse's made me feel safe and they explained why they was giving it to me. Sadly none of those medicines worked either and I was deteriorating fast, and still losing a lot blood. The doctors said there was only one other medicine they could give me, if that  didn't work I would have to go to theatre. It was an infusion called Infliximab, my mum and dad had to sign a number of papers to say I could have it. Two hours later the infusion started and it felt like it lasted forever. It was like a miracle cure as within a few hours we could see a difference. I wasn't in a much pain anymore and I wasn't rushing to the toilet as often. We were all over the moon but we hadn't got to get to excited. The doctor said I could go home for the day but had to go back at night to have my medicines, but it was great to see my dogs Toby and Bonzo.  I was allowed home 4 days later but to this day I still go back to Nottingham QMC for my infusion every 8 weeks. 

In all I was off school for 11 weeks, I missed my friends although they did come and see me.

It is believed that I have had this condition from when I was 3 years old, when I had my first symptoms, then again when I was 7 years old but was only diagnosed last year when I was 10.

I am currently in remission and therefore, I would like to help raise  funds and awareness of Ulcerative Colitis as it is getting more common in young children.

Please help me by giving a small donation to help me on my way.

I am taking part in the Great North Swim & Great East Swim, swimming in Open Water, swimming half a mile at each.

As a family we are going to be walking an 18 Mile walk around Chatsworth and surrounding area. I have had lots of support from friends and family and they are going to be joining be all they way. If you would like to join us and help me raise even more money, you can email my mum at elaine.ann@live.co.uk

Thank-you

Ben x

***PS***

Last year was a fantastic year as I raised over £6000. Lets make 2016 just as good and see how much we can raise this year!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED ME.  LETS HOPE WE CAN RAISE AWARENESS AND RAISE LOTS OF MONEY FOR CROHNS AND COLITIS UK.  HOPEFULLY ONE DAY THEY WILL FIND A CURE. 

Ben xx 

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