A local school administrator who has been fighting a silent battle most of her life is taking a stand to help others.
Connie Poston, behavioral health director at Clark-Pleasant schools, has been battling Crohn’s disease since she was 11. Now, more than two decades later, she will help lead efforts to raise money for support groups and research on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both inflammatory bowel diseases which affect about 3.1 million Americans, according the Crohn’s + Colitis Foundation of America.
The chronic condition affects Poston’s everyday life and the lives of about 70,000 Hoosiers, Poston said.
“I’ve dealt with it for a while,” Poston said. “It’s severe tiredness, feeling run down. It could be arthritis in joints, stomach pains, different issues with my colon and digestive system. It mainly affected my large intestine. I’ve had five surgeries at this point and complete colon removal surgery. No medication was helping me any longer. The surgery saved my life.”
Since the surgery, about four years ago, Poston hasn’t faced the same degree of symptoms as before. She still experiences fatigue and has an iron deficiency, but with the surgeries and support of her family, the illness is manageable, she said.
“It may never go away. It’s not obvious that you’re sick and affects you not only physically, but without a support system, it can affect your mental health,” Poston said. “I have a good support system with my husband, family and son, but a lot of people don’t talk about it. Volunteering has really helped.”
As an ambassador with the Crohn’s + Colitis Foundation, Poston has a goal of raising at least $5,000 this year. She plans on bolstering her efforts by spreading the word at Club Pilates of Greenwood, which she is a member of, and Johnson’s BBQ Shack in Bargersville, which hosts dine and donation drives. Typically, each summer includes a Crohn’s + Colitis fundraiser celebration and walk at Victory Field, though the details of this year’s event have not been finalized, she said.
Poston will also be involved with the foundation’s social media campaigns. And, as an ambassador, she will share her story about her journey with the ailment. Ambassadorship helps people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease know they are not alone, said Brandi Greenleaf-Barnes, executive director of the Indiana chapter of the Crohn’s + Colitis Foundation.
“It can be isolating and make you feel alone,” Greenleaf-Barnes said. “Awareness for this cause is crucial for patients living in isolation and living alone.”
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You can donate to the Crohn’s + Colitis Foundation at crohnscolitisfoundation.org.
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