Julie Vaughan

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2006 Great Comebacks™ Recipient – South Region  

Like many people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Julie Vaughan was diagnosed at a young age (24). She was in the middle of her first full year of teaching fourth grade when a colonoscopy revealed what her gastroenterologist already suspected, Crohn’s disease.

While suffering through daily symptoms of fever, pain, cramping and diarrhea, Vaughan managed to finish the school year, but was down to 99 pounds and found it increasingly difficult to eat. She spent two weeks of her summer vacation in the hospital in an effort to control her Crohn’s.

After moving to Plano, Texas in January 1999, Vaughan married and continued to teach despite her worsening condition. That same year, she was told that she would require ileostomy surgery due to an almost complete narrowing of her large intestine. Her summer vacation that year was devoted to her recovery, and she returned to her position as an elementary school librarian in the fall.

Prior to her ostomy surgery, all of Vaughan’s energy was put into self-care. Basic tasks like trips to the grocery store, shopping, or any public activity were long and arduous. After surgery, she rediscovered her strength and confidence, as well as a newfound freedom. As she regained her strength, energy and weight, she realized she had more time to give to others. Her job performance improved and she became a better wife, daughter, friend and IBD advocate.

She now reaches out to other patients facing ostomy surgery and volunteers for several organizations including the Special Angels program, where she shadows children with special needs while they attend Sunday School. She also has been a member of the North Texas Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s (CCFA) Camp Oasis Committee for two years, serving on the arts and crafts sub-committee.

Five years ago, Vaughan and her husband James gave birth to their daughter Annie. Along with her family and faith, Vaughan credits her gastroenterologist, Dr. Katherine Little, Dr. Robert Jacobson, her colorectal surgeon, and Linda Buchanan, her enterostomal (ET) nurse, for making her Great Comeback possible.