Patient Stories

Support is one of the pillars of the mission of the National Pancreas Foundation (NPF). Caregivers provide selfless support for their loved ones who are suffering from pancreas disease. For this edition, we want to feature the caregivers for those whose voices are rarely heard – those with pediatric pancreatitis. The parents featured in this …

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When did your pancreas story begin? Nearly 10 years ago, I began suffering from abdominal pain, nausea, and difficulty eating. It took many years of appointments, testing, and other procedures for me to be diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis due to a ductal abnormality. Despite a cholecystectomy and other endoscopic procedures including multiple ERCPs with stenting, …

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It all started as a child! I never knew why every time I was stressed or excited, which was a lot with a family of six children, a great Mom, and an alcoholic father, I would have these bad belly aches, nausea, and vomiting. It would happen during book reports in front of the class, …

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Alarik “Riky” Howard is an exemplary thirteen-year-old boy who resides in Northwest Indiana.   As the Midwest braces itself for a chilly winter, Riky’s heart is far from cold.  He was diagnosed with severe chronic pancreatitis when he was just six years old. After countless prolonged stays at Indianapolis’ Riley Children’s Hospital and numerous surgeries, Riky …

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