Cadet not defined by Crohn's

Cadet James Lewis, a 20-year-old sophomore at The Citadel, doesn't define himself by Crohn's disease. But the digestive disorder can strike any time.

Crohn's disease is an inflammation of the digestive tract lining. Symptoms vary and can be embarrassing. Many suffer severe abdominal pain, weight loss and fatigue.

"It's a random disease. You do not know if you're going to have a good day or a bad day," the Columbia native said. "I always expect to have a good day, and if it's a bad one, I deal with it."

Lewis manages his Crohn's with bi-monthly shots to his stomach and daily maintenance pills. When he started at The Citadel last year, he struggled with whether to tell his peers about the disorder.

"Everyone has something different about them, something they have to deal with," he said. "It's a big part of my life, but I'd not go so far as to say it defines me."

With a 3.9 GPA, the business major is on track to graduate in three years. Playing for the tennis team is a bright spot for him, he said.

In October, he was recognized in Orlando, Fla., along with 30 other winners of the UCB Crohn's Scholarship Program. The pharmaceutical company awarded 31 $10,000 scholarships.

After The Citadel, Lewis is eyeing a dual graduate degree program in law and international business administration.

Col. Mark Bebensee, associate dean of the school of business administration, said of Lewis' disorder, "You would never know. It hasn't kept him from being the brightest in the class."

At the beginning of Bebensee's microeconomics course, Lewis filled out an introduction form where he mentioned he had Crohn's. If it wasn't for that, Bebensee said he'd never know. "He's learned to cope very well," he said.

Lewis was diagnosed with Crohn's disease during his freshman year in high school.

Although the cause of Crohn's disease is not fully understood, many experts say the immune system plays a role, attacking the gastrointestinal tract.

While there is no known cure for the disease, there are treatments, including medication and surgery, that can offer relief from symptoms.

About 20 percent of people with the disorder have a relative with it, too. But in Lewis' case, he is the only one in his family, he said.

At first, Lewis suffered from cramps, but didn't think much of the disease, he said. Then the flare-ups began. A flare-up is an eruption of ulcers, leading to painful cramping.

During flare-ups, digestion is disrupted, and the body fails to extract nutrients from food. Lewis once lost 20 pounds during an episode.

Freshman year at The Citadel can be a particular challenge for someone with Crohn's. The rigor and stress might trigger flare-ups.

Lewis had about eight last year, more than twice what he averaged before starting at the military school.

Infusions of a steroid and immunosuppressive medicine can treat his flare-ups, he said, but slowing his immune system leaves him open to colds and sinus infections.

"If I was in any other school, I'd stay in bed all day. At The Citadel, I can't," Lewis said.

Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@postandcourier.com.