Disease forced award-winning Columbus teacher home from school. Fundraiser tries to help
A fundraiser seeks donations to help an award-winning Columbus teacher battle a debilitating disease.
Briana Shoulders, the Blanchard Elementary School 2022 Teacher of the Year, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and colitis in 2021.
“This means her body’s immune system is attacking itself,” Erika Gonzales, who calls Shoulders her best friend since high school, wrote on the fundraising account she created at GoFundMe.com. “It can affect a person’s life physically, mentally, and financially during the active phase and flare-ups”.
As a result, Shoulders has “endured two hospitalizations, several failed treatment plans, endless doctor appointments, handfuls of ER visits, drained sick leave, months of missed work, and piles of medical bills,” Gonzales wrote.
All of which has forced Shoulders to stop teaching.
“Despite all of this, she has remained positive through her faith and support system,” Gonzales wrote. “With this most recent flare-up, it is best for her to move back home to allow her time to recover physically and financially. Please consider giving to Bri in hopes that she can gain remission status again and get back to living her life well and without pain.”
During the two days since the account was created, 64 donors have raised $2,895 toward the $6,000 goal, as of Thursday afternoon.
“She has been the most consistent and best friend I could have ever asked for,” Gonzales wrote. “And I know this rings true for everyone else who is lucky enough to be a part of her life.”
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, anywhere from the mouth to the anus. Patients go through periods of flares and remission. Common symptoms include persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, urgent bowel movements, sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation and constipation, which can cause bowel obstruction.
Colitis is a continuous inflammation of the colon. Patients go through periods of flares and remission. Symptoms vary but include loose and urgent bowel movements, bloody stool, abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea.
Treatments may reduce symptoms for Crohn’s and colitis patients, and neither is fatal, but no cures exist.
