As Israel's leading center of excellence for the treatment of pediatric gastroenterological diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Shaare Zedek Medical Center recently launched its third year of coping workshops led by expert psychologists for youth suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative Colitis, with parallel groups conducted for their parents.  Both of these conditions, which fall under the broader framework of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, are increasingly common amongst young Israelis, like their western peers worldwide. Shaare Zedek has become a leader in their treatment, and a regional referral center.

Conceived and initiated by Dr. Dan Turner who directs the Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit and the Interdisciplinary Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Shaare Zedek, the program provides a unique supportive framework both for youth (ages 10-18) with IBD as well as their parents from all over Israel. During his three year fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Turner, focused on inflammatory bowel diseases in children, under the mentorship of Prof. Anne Griffith, one of the world's leading experts in this field.  

According to Dr. Turner, “When it comes to chronic conditions like these that become a permanent feature in a person's life, especially in the case of a disease beginning in childhood and lasting a lifetime, it's not just the physical disease that needs to be addressed. As importantly, there is a very strong impact on all aspects of the child’s life – at school, within one's social circle, and certainly at home with his or her family." 

The underlying goal behind these coping workshops, which meet every three weeks throughout the year with psychologists Udi Danker, (himself coping with Crohn's and thus a shining example and role model that indeed one can live a successful professional and family life alongside the disease), and Dr. Yair Einat (who meets with the parents), is to highlight for the children that there are other young patients just like them. They are not alone. In a recent festive gathering, launching the third year of these workshops' activity, the youth shared stories about cancelled vacations in the wake of a flare-up of their diseases and were heartened to hear others in the room respond that they had undergone a very similar experience. “This is the first time I've ever met other kids who know exactly what I'm talking about!" said Dana, 15, "At school I'm not always sure my girlfriends can really understand how I feel. In this room, there's no need to explain a thing. It's very comforting".  

The frank, heart-to-heart atmosphere in the youth circle was further demonstrated by sharing ways to deal with the often limiting diet that comes with IBD. Suggestions were tossed around the room for improving the flavor of the liquid formulas that many IBD patients are prescribed as their entire nutrition for a limited period in order to reduce inflammation. "I like mixing it with maple syrup" suggested one, "it's best cold" added another "I add in chocolate-milk-powder" offered a third. And they continued to compare notes on who had been hospitalized the most times, who had had certain types of surgery and also regular healthy teen stuff – what they were majoring in at school and how they had spent their summer.

Parents who accompanied their children to the support groups were organized into sessions of their own. Psychologist Dr. Yair Einat ran the parents' sessions which focused on helping them best cope with the emotional challenges that come with a child with these types of conditions. Dr. Einat urged parents to prevent the disease from taking over the relationships with their children. “Even though your child is indeed sick, not everything should revolve around that sickness,” he said. “A parent has his or her own challenges in life beyond their child and it is imperative that you not ignore your own needs even while caring for your child's.”

The evening's program included a heart-to-heart discussion with stand-up comic, Shani Cohen, a famous Israeli television comedian, who enabled the teens to relax and recognize that humor truly is the best medicine.

As Israel's leading center of excellence for the treatment of pediatric gastroenterological diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, Shaare Zedek Medical Center recently launched its third year of coping workshops led by expert psychologists for youth suffering from Crohn’s disease and ulcerative Colitis, with parallel groups conducted for their parents.  Both of these conditions, which fall under the broader framework of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, are increasingly common amongst young Israelis, like their western peers worldwide. Shaare Zedek has become a leader in their treatment, and a regional referral center.

Conceived and initiated by Dr. Dan Turner who directs the Pediatric Gastroenterology Unit and the Interdisciplinary Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center at Shaare Zedek, the program provides a unique supportive framework both for youth (ages 10-18) with IBD as well as their parents from all over Israel. During his three year fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Turner, focused on inflammatory bowel diseases in children, under the mentorship of Prof. Anne Griffith, one of the world's leading experts in this field.  

According to Dr. Turner, “When it comes to chronic conditions like these that become a permanent feature in a person's life, especially in the case of a disease beginning in childhood and lasting a lifetime, it's not just the physical disease that needs to be addressed. As importantly, there is a very strong impact on all aspects of the child’s life – at school, within one's social circle, and certainly at home with his or her family." 

The underlying goal behind these coping workshops, which meet every three weeks throughout the year with psychologists Udi Danker, (himself coping with Crohn's and thus a shining example and role model that indeed one can live a successful professional and family life alongside the disease), and Dr. Yair Einat (who meets with the parents), is to highlight for the children that there are other young patients just like them. They are not alone. In a recent festive gathering, launching the third year of these workshops' activity, the youth shared stories about cancelled vacations in the wake of a flare-up of their diseases and were heartened to hear others in the room respond that they had undergone a very similar experience. “This is the first time I've ever met other kids who know exactly what I'm talking about!" said Dana, 15, "At school I'm not always sure my girlfriends can really understand how I feel. In this room, there's no need to explain a thing. It's very comforting".  

The frank, heart-to-heart atmosphere in the youth circle was further demonstrated by sharing ways to deal with the often limiting diet that comes with IBD. Suggestions were tossed around the room for improving the flavor of the liquid formulas that many IBD patients are prescribed as their entire nutrition for a limited period in order to reduce inflammation. "I like mixing it with maple syrup" suggested one, "it's best cold" added another "I add in chocolate-milk-powder" offered a third. And they continued to compare notes on who had been hospitalized the most times, who had had certain types of surgery and also regular healthy teen stuff – what they were majoring in at school and how they had spent their summer.

Parents who accompanied their children to the support groups were organized into sessions of their own. Psychologist Dr. Yair Einat ran the parents' sessions which focused on helping them best cope with the emotional challenges that come with a child with these types of conditions. Dr. Einat urged parents to prevent the disease from taking over the relationships with their children. “Even though your child is indeed sick, not everything should revolve around that sickness,” he said. “A parent has his or her own challenges in life beyond their child and it is imperative that you not ignore your own needs even while caring for your child's.”

The evening's program included a heart-to-heart discussion with stand-up comic, Shani Cohen, a famous Israeli television comedian, who enabled the teens to relax and recognize that humor truly is the best medicine.