The Great Comebacks® Program is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Ina Brudnick and Comeback Kids™ Awards, recognizing young people who have overcome serious intestinal diseases and other conditions that can lead to ostomy surgery.
Many of the estimated 1.4 million Americans with inflammatory bowel disease, a collective term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are initially affected when they are adolescents or young adults.1 In addition, ostomy or diversion surgery in children may be the result of other bowel or bladder disorders, or birth defects such as Spina Bifida.
The Ina Brudnick Award, given in memory of the pioneering stoma care nurse, presents $1,000 each to four students who have undergone ostomy surgery and/or have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis and intend to pursue a higher education.
The 2010 Ina Brudnick award recipients are:
• Brandi Barger, 22, Coldspring, TX
• Dennis Frohlich, 24, Fargo, ND
• Gillian Knafelc, 18, East Syracuse, NY
• Michael Gerald, 24, Fresno, CA
The Comeback Kids™ Award, also sponsored by Youth Rally, recognizes young people who are living active, productive lives while managing an ostomy and/or other bowel or bladder disorders.
This year, the program recognizes three 2010 Comeback Kids™ award recipients:
• Tyler Keithley, 17, Buffalo, MO
• Holly Legere, 17, Bangor, ME
• Abigail (Abby) Klosterman, 12, Gilbert, AZ
Please join us in honoring these brave young people who are living their lives to the fullest, and whose personal stories join our community of support for people of all ages who are dealing with similar conditions or facing ostomy surgery.
1. About Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America.
http://www.ccfa.org/about/press/ibdfacts. Accessed November 3, 2010.