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Just what the doctor ordered: Holistic approach to Crohn's and Colitis proves successful
By Marthe Stinton, mstinton@starlocalnews.com
Most 11-year-old boys spend their spring days outside, playing basketball and waiting with bated breath in anticipation of the summer sun and vacation from class work.
That's exactly what Caleb Smith was doing before he became ill. His parents, Rita and David Smith, took him to a doctor who brushed his illness off as a simple virus. But when Caleb dropped below 65 pounds, his parents knew they needed a second opinion. After several tests and a colonoscopy, Caleb was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
"Being a dad, the worst thing in the world is seeing your son sick," David said. "It is the worst thing I could dream of or imagine, and I don't want any other parent to go through any of this."
His parents were stunned. They had no idea what the disease - or its treatment - would entail and began feverishly researching. They found that Caleb, at his age, is one of very few in the area with the diagnosis, something David said presented a challenge. Parents of Caleb's friends worried it was contagious, some even avoided his company in an effort to keep their children from contracting the disease.
"We had to go through a lot of things and other parents had no idea what it was either. Some of them stayed away," David said. "When I got done pouting, as my wife says, we decided to take a proactive approach and learn as much as we could about it."
The Smiths contacted the CCFA's North Texas chapter, which educated them on the disease. The family's doctor at the time had given Caleb steroids to promote weight gain and suggested another prescription. This time, the side effects could have included leukemia, a risk Rita and David were not willing to take.
"I thought, 'Are you crazy?'" David said. "We researched a little more and found Dr. Randy Naidoo, who at the time was with Healthy Kids Pediatrics in Frisco. Caleb is now on probiotics and aloe vera, and that is working and healing his stomach. He is up to 76 pounds now and is able to go to school. "
Caleb's parents "went all natural," David said, and began a steady increase of fruits and vegetables. Everything changed from that point on. Caleb was taken off the heavy drugs and instead, was given a diet tailored to his needs. Popcorn was eliminated because of its ability to block key tracts that could lead to liver and kidney failure.
"When he was first diagnosed he missed a ton of school, but once we found out what it was and started giving him vitamins and probiotics he feels so much better," David said. "This year he has only missed four days of school."
Since the disease is so closely linked to IBD and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, David said individuals are hesitant to talk about it because of the sensitive nature of its symptoms. Because of that, Smith said, people are misdiagnosed and the disease is put on a back burner.
"In trying to raise awareness we are telling people it is OK to talk about it," he said. "You have to go to the bathroom a lot. You will have these certain flare-ups where you stomach is in knots and in pain, and you have to get to the restroom. Sometimes people unfortunately don't get there in time and it is an embarrassment."
With that goal in mind, Smith went to The Colony City Councilman Kirk Mikulec, who worked with him on a proclamation, passed last week, announcing Dec. 1 -7 as Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week.
"Two years ago, the Senate passed a resolution proclaiming Dec. 1 -7 as Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week," Smith said. "Nobody in the area had ever done that for Crohn's disease. We are so blessed to be in a great city. People have helped us and supported us and now we want to do our part to continue to raise awareness."
City officials weren't the only ones touched by the Smith's story. The Texas Legends have reached out to provide season tickets for Caleb and his family and a local coach has taken on a mentorship role, calling to check in with Caleb and offer support and motivation.
"Coach Bryce Overstreet has been amazing," David said. "Before Caleb got sick he had gone to a basketball camp and they had formed quite a little friendship during that time. When Caleb got sick, coach Overstreet would call and check in and see how Caleb was doing. Anytime Denton Ryan is playing anywhere in the area we go watch the games and that makes him feel so much better. If anything happens he wants to talk to coach."
Overstreet is the head boys basketball coach at Denton Ryan High School. His journey with Caleb began during a basketball camp in Frisco several years ago.
"I don't really know what drew him to me, or me to him, but we developed a relationship," Overstreet said. "It was one of those things where I see hundreds of campers a summer and didn't really put much thought into it. Then the battle with Crohn's was initiated and it's just evolved from there."
The two keep in contact via text messages and visits during camps or games Caleb attends. They maintain contact and, Overstreet said, Caleb is quick to let him know when he gets good news and even when the news is not so optimistic.
"I would have to say he has been as much as an encouragement to me as I have been to him," he said. "He has had a positive attitude throughout the whole thing and has shown a lot of courage that I don't think a lot of kids his age necessarily possess."
Everyone chooses their profession for their own reasons - be it money, success, power or a simple love of the game. But, Overstreet said, he chose his path because of the potential relationships and mentorship he could provide to students.
"I've always said that after an experience with a kid in my program, if his return to me is to discuss things that happen on the court, then I've failed," he said. "I always thought that my impact and my influence should be bigger and should be a lot more about the life lessons than the X's and O's. At the end of the day with Caleb, it's been different. I've taught him basketball skills and have also gotten to know him on a deeper level, other than just the game."
Caleb wouldn't have it any other way. After taking a break from his Nintendo DS - he's an expert at a James Bond game though he couldn't remember what level he was on - Caleb said the support of the community has been great.
"I haven't had many people notice how I feel because of this condition, and it just feels great to have people on my side," Caleb said.
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