Sad news RE IBD patients' advocate

Yesterday Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness sorrowfully announced that its founder & executive director, attorney Jennifer C. Jaff, had died untimely at the end of last week. She was 55 yrs-old & had fought off Crohn's since the age of 19, suffered 8 surgeries in those 30+ yrs. She had graduated from Georgetown University Law School & later served 6 yrs as Assistant Attorney General for the state of Connecticut, specializing in consumer & health issues. I was fortunate to meet her a couple yrs ago thanks to my gastro. Among many concerns Jennifer definitely helped last spring in the effort to restore brandname Colazal to production, realized in mid-March after ca. 4 months of struggle. Members here may want to read her blog on the Advocacy fPwCI Website while it's still available. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

It is rare to hear of someone dying from IBD but this is the second post on the forum recently of another death of IBD'er. Another internet board I used to read several years ago had a post from the wife returning to tell of her husbands death and it was shocking to me to think this was a potential reality.

I am 50-something like the person you posted and the other person was a 24 year old.
IBD whether Crohn's or UC is a potentially fatal disease, something many may not be aware of.

We are all diminished by anyones death but in Jennifer Jaff's passing we have lost a powerful force for good.

I've been reading more about her on the 'net in recent days: inspirational. She was up against so many physical hardships, including scar tissue in the gut from her surgeries. Also, her (self-employed) health insurance premiums cost $14,000/yr!!!!!!!!! And she helped the parents of an autistic schoolboy get permission from their local school district for his helper-dog to accompany him at school-- among her many advocacy cases. / Old Hat (32 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Sad news. I don't understand though, how can someone die from IBD? What happened in Jennifer's case?

A 15 year old girl from our IBD clinic passed away this past summer. She had had surgery for UC at age 13 and continued to struggle. It scared the life out of me and it has been just devastating to face my worst fear up close like this.

http://uncoverostomy.org/2012/07/27/a-future-shattered/

Don't mean to take this thread away from Jennifer Jaff's passing. She was such a strong and articulate advocate . Just tragic.