For most people, the dawning of a new day is fairly predictable, but for Caryn Powers and others like her who have Crohn’s disease, a new day may bring an element of comfort or intense pain.
Caryn Powers According to Powers, 20, who seemed to downplay all that she has been through during her teen years, her life is as unpredictable as a night at the casino.
“One day I’ll get up and feel intense pain. The next day I’ll feel really good and not even remember how awful the pain was the day before,” the Freehold Township resident revealed.
Powers was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 16 when she was a junior at Freehold Township High School. Her high school journey took her through more than the usual roller coaster ride teenagers normally hitch themselves to.
Being with friends, “hanging out” and the athletics program she so enjoyed all took a back seat as Powers underwent intestinal resection surgery, which took out part of her colon.
At that time she also had to deal with powerful medications and intravenous fluids that were administered through a peripherally inserted central catheter (PIC) and a host of other things that permeated her life during her years at FTHS.
Sandra Campanaro, walk manager of the New Jersey Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Manalapan, explained that the disease affects 1.4 million Americans, including 41,000 people in New Jersey.
“These diseases inflame the intestines, often causing serious complications. In fact, if the disease is not treated properly, the complications can be life-threatening. Yet, many people suffer in silence,” Campanaro said
According to Campanaro, the mission of the foundation is to cure and prevent Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis through research and to improve the quality of life of the children and adults affected by these digestive diseases through education and support.
“Millions of people suffer every day with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are two painful, unpredictable diseases of the digestive tract,” Campanaro said. “Forty years of research has brought us closer to a cure, but most people with the diseases still go from day to day not knowing when their next hospital stay may be, or when they might miss two weeks of work or school, or miss any one of various important events. We must bring awareness to the community so crucial research dollars are raised to find a cure for these diseases.”
For her part, Powers seems to be on an upward climb these days, attending Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, as a full-time student and taking courses while she waits for the nursing program at the college to open up a slot for her.
She said that enrolling in a nursing program was not her intention when she started her college life, but when she became ill, she was touched by the people who cared for her and decided that she wanted to be a part of a world where people cared for the sick.
Powers works part time as a hostess at Applebee’s in Manalapan. She has also signed on to play softball with the team at Applebee’s and is glad to be back playing a sport she loves. Her illness in high school forced her to leave the softball team.
Powers became involved in the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America when she walked with family members three years ago in Belmar in the Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk to raise money for research.
Caryn’s mom, Janet, a dispatcher with the Freehold Borough Police Department, and her dad, Harry, a laboratory technician for BASF Corp., know firsthand how the symptoms and stresses of Crohn’s disease affect those who have it.
From spending days and nights in a hospital, to seeing their daughter be taken out of school and home-schooled, to having her leave the athletics she so loved, they live with the consequences and effects of the disease on a daily basis.
“You never know what kind of day it’s going to be,” Janet said.
With everything Caryn has endured, however, she continues to try to find ways to help those afflicted with the disease by trying to think of ways to raise funds for the foundation.
In addition to signing up for the Take Steps Walk, the young woman has created her own team for this year’s Belmar walk to be held June 1. As captain of her team, she is taking responsibility along with the friends she has enlisted, for raising money that will help the foundation.
“I’ve participated in the walk before, but this year I’ve been trying to come up with a way to raise additional money for the walk,” Powers said. “I work for Applebee’s in Manalapan and the restaurant has a program called ‘Dining to Donate.’ ”
Powers explained that on the day of the fundraiser, between 5-9 p.m., any person who has the fundraiser flier has 10 percent of the bill donated to the cause that the flier represents. Her fundraiser, approved by manager Bob Schuttinger, was held at Applebee’s on March 24.
Referencing the June 1 walk, Campanaro said that “to date, the event has raised $127 million nationally in crucial research dollars, literally creating the field of Crohn’s and colitis research, but there is more work to be done. Together we can achieve a better quality of life for patients and those who participate in their care. Better therapies and prevention are only a few steps away.”
Campanaro said the walk “brings together the Crohn’s and colitis community in a fun and energetic atmosphere, giving people of all ages who have been touched by these diseases the rare opportunity to be heard, raising awareness of these little known diseases in our area and across the nation.”

