Patient Stories > Trinity Waring

Trinity Waring first reported stomach pain the day after her eighth birthday. Days later, her mother heard "a blood-curdling scream" from the bathroom. She and her husband took Trinity to the local emergency room, but after six hours, the doctors couldn't find a problem.

Trinity's parents knew something was wrong. They brought Trinity to their family doctor, who took blood and stool samples and sent the results to a local gastroenterologist. Before Trinity could see the gastroenterologist, she had more episodes and was taken to a second hospital where she was finally diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease.

Trinity was initially treated with medication, taking as many as 12 pills a day. But the pain continued, and Trinity became so anemic that she needed a blood transfusion. Her gastroenterologist said Trinity needed surgery, and she was taken by ambulance to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

Trinity required ileoanal reservoir surgery, which is performed in three stages. During the first procedure, surgeons removed Trinity's large intestine and created an ileostomy for her intestinal contents to drain into. Two months later, a J-pouch was created, which is an ileoanal reservoir that collects stool in the absence of the large intestine. A temporary ileostomy was also performed to collect stool while the J-pouch healed. During the final procedure, the ileostomy was closed so that Trinity could have normal bowel movements.

Following the final procedure Trinity has done very well with near normal bowel function. She is a happy, vibrant child who looks forward to visiting her doctors at St. Christopher's.

For more information on the Division of Pediatric, General and Minimally Invasive Surgery at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, call 215-427-5292.