COMMITMENT | to patients and the future
types of inflammatory bowel disease
(IBD); the other is Crohn’s disease.
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition
in which the lining of the colon
(large intestine) becomes inflamed
and develops open sores, or ulcers,
leading to a host of symptoms. It is not
unusual for patients to have periods
of remission, followed by flare-ups.
Ulcerative colitis is believed to be the
result of an abnormal response by the
body’s immune system to the lining
of the intestine, and it tends to run in
families. “We don’t know of anyone
in our family who had this condition,
so this was totally unexpected,” says
Mrs. Burnam.
Following Bethany’s diagnosis, the
Burnams made the four-hour drive
from Marble Falls to Houston to see
a pediatric gastroenterologist who
specialized in IBD. Bethany was put on
medications in an attempt to control
the symptoms, but she continued to
suffer relapses. And the long trip to
Houston was difficult, particularly
with her symptoms, so the Burnams
began looking for a pediatric specialist
closer to home.
That was when they found pediatric
gastroenterologist James F. “Jack”
Daniel, MD, only 90 minutes away, at
Scott & White Healthcare in Temple.
“He became like family to us,” recalls
Mrs. Vetters, who was Dr. Daniel’s
patient from age 12 until she finished
college. “Not only was he a gifted and
knowledgeable doctor, but he also cared
about me as a person and recognized
the unique situation I was in as a
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THE CATALYST December 14 | sw.org
pediatric patient dealing
with an adult disease.
In addition, Scott
& White had all the
resources we needed in
one place, and it was so
much closer to home.”
“Dr. Daniel was
very kind and patient,”
says Mrs. Burnam. “He
took such thoughtful
care of Bethany, and was
extremely supportive of
us as parents.”
Despite the best
possible care during that
time, Dr. Daniel’s young
patient never achieved
long-term remission
with medical treatment.
“I’d experience six
months of remission
followed by six months Thomas and Bethany Vetters, and their daughters
of relapse, a pattern that Caroline (left) and Cayla.
continued for years,”
Mrs. Vetters remembers. During ulcerative colitis increases the risk of
relapses, she continued to suffer the colon cancer. When Bethany was in
difficult symptoms, and always had her sophomore year of high school,
to stay close to a bathroom. Despite Dr. Daniel, concerned about her longthis, she did very well in school, term health, brought up the option of
played basketball and volleyball, and surgical treatment, which is considered
had many friends in her close-knit when medical therapy fails to manage
community. “I was surrounded with the condition.
“Nearly six years into my treatment
love and support from my parents
and my sister Brittany, friends, and I was still having long relapses,” says
church,” says Mrs. Vetters. “My faith Mrs. Vetters, who at that stage of life
that God was in control, and that He was starting to think seriously about
doesn’t waste pain, helped me keep her future. Her mother remembers a
pivotal moment. “One day Bethany
things in perspective.”
Besides its symptoms, chronic said to me, ‘I’ll never be able to go to