What started as a simple fall led to a diagnosis the Weiler family wasn’t expecting – 8-year-old Patricia Weiler has Crohn’s Disease.

After the fall, Patricia’s mother, Annette, immediately took her to their dentist, who prescribed antibiotics but the swelling persisted. Patricia then saw her pediatrician who referred them to a maxillofacial surgeon who noticed abnormal tissue architecture. She performed a biopsy, which confirmed granulomatous inflammation consistent with Crohn’s disease.

She was then referred to Racha Khalaf, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and a pediatric gastroenterologist.  Dr. Khalaf and her team performed several tests, including a biopsy of Patricia’s wounds.  When the test revealed several key indicators, Dr. Khalaf confirmed that Patricia has Crohn’s Disease.

Racha Khalaf, MD, USF Health assistant professor and pediatric gastroenterologist.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.  It’s a progressive condition, meaning it can get worse over time if untreated, and an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract often causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss and fever.   Treatment goals for Crohn’s include symptom mitigation, endoscopic improvement, and remission.

Patricia goes to the Tampa General Hospital Pediatric Day Hospital every six weeks to receive an intravenous treatment of Infliximab, commonly prescribed for a variety of autoimmune disorders.  Patricia said her favorite part of her visits are being able to play with TGH Valor Service Dogs, who are there to provide a comforting presence to children in the hospital setting, and helped young Patricia quell her fear of needles.

Dr. Khalaf and other physicians who have met Patricia commonly describe her a “wise beyond her years” in the wake of her diagnosis.  She understands this will be something that will be with her for the rest of her life and understands that she needs to make certain lifestyle changes including limiting her sun exposure, the amount of processed foods, and reducing the amount of dairy she consumes.  Patricia still participates in her favorite activities including soccer, ballet, and playing with her dog Mitch and sister Annabelle.

Patricia Weiler (right) and her sister Annabelle with their dog Mitch.

Patricia has been in remission for more than nine months and mother Annette is very thankful for all of the doctors who helped get her pointed in the right direction for care and getting her questions answered.  She is especially thankful to Dr. Khalaf and her team for finally bringing an end to the mystery of Patricia’s health.

“From the first moment I met the team, they were very assuring.  They said they would become ‘best friends’ throughout this process and that’s exactly how it has been,” Annette said.  “It was scary at first, but the reassurance is what really helped us through this.”

“It’s not a disability, it’s just something with my body that I have to keep an eye on,” Patricia said.  “I’m very thankful that we found a team that helps me and my family with my problems, and we did it before it got worse.”

Video and photos by Freddie Coleman

Grateful patient Michelle Turman MA ’00 CFRE has made a $25,000 challenge gift to encourage other patients and donors to advance research and comprehensive care at the USF Health Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center.

Turman was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease 10 years ago and was on a medication that worked for about six years before she became immune to it. Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition, and when she saw signs that her health was deteriorating, she waited for the call back from her previous gastroenterologist. Weeks passed without a response.

Then she met USF Health’s Chief Medical Officer Mark Moseley, who lived with the same condition. He connected her with Dr. Reneé Marchioni Beery, who ran some tests and found that Michelle’s medications had quit working. They developed a new treatment plan, and shortly after Michelle started a new medication and found herself in remission.

“With Crohn’s, you don’t realize how much pain you’re in because you learn to tolerate it, and you don’t have to be in that pain. I never knew that kind of care before I came to USF Health.”

Now, Turman has transferred all of her health care to USF Health so that her doctors can coordinate their care without the burden of her continually having to restate her symptoms and concerns with all of her medical providers.

The USF Health IBD Center is a community of specialized healthcare providers trained in the field of IBD ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. As the only academic medical center on the west coast of Florida, the center provides cutting-edge treatment, technology, and research. The team of dedicated experts provides comprehensive care using state-of of-the the-art treatment and disease management approaches focused on IBD.

“What was being created here at USF Health with this new center was a continued center of care — one that could shepherd you and connect all of your doctors together on one platform,” said Turman. “It saved me the time and stress of having to coordinate all of my doctors, communicate the story numerous times, and making sure all the tests and results were in one place.”

This is the largest gift to date for the new IBD Center, which needs additional philanthropy as it upgrades its clinical space to improve patient care and facilitate coordination between its providers.

Turman’s USF roots run deep, as both of her parents were members of the university’s first graduating class. Turman received her master’s degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and currently serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council. In addition to her gift to USF Health, Turman also created the Turman Study Abroad Scholarship in Ancient Studies in 2018 to provide undergraduates and graduates with the opportunity to study in Greece.

Turman is the Founder and CEO of Catalyst Consulting Services and has nearly 30 years of nonprofit experience in the areas of executive search, organizational management, and fundraising. She has raised over $75 million for the Tampa Bay community and currently serves on the national board of Donate Life America and the Hillsborough County Cultural Assets Commission. She has been recognized by Tampa Bay Metro magazine as one of Tampa Bay’s Distinguished Women in Business and the Face of Nonprofit Change and was recently nominated by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce as The Outstanding Small Business Leader of the Year.

To support the new Michelle Turman IBD Research fund at USF Health, visit usf.to/Turman.

Video by Torie Doll, USF Health Communications & Marketing

Story reposted from USF Health Office of Development and Alumni Relations