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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 2, 2016 | 10 Jack will take on Gutsy Walk in Bronte June 5 by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Jack Comerford looks and acts like most boys his age. The 12-year-old Oakville resident likes music, being outside, playing on his computer and riding his bicycle around the neighbourhood at all hours of the day when he's not at school. But what you see, isn't always what it seems. In Jack's case, he has Crohn's disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that disrupts the body's ability to digest food, absorb nutrition and eliminate waste in a healthy manner. Symptoms of Crohn's disease Many people with Crohn's tend to feel symptoms that include abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite. However, Jack's mother Jennifer Comerford said Jack's health deteriorated slowly so by the time his symptoms had progressed, he was "used to it and didn't even know it wasn't normal to be in pain. "The doctor would ask him, `Does your stomach hurt?' and he'd say, `No'," she said. It took 10 months for Jack to be diagnosed with Crohn's in the fall of 2014 after numerous visits with their doctor, specialists, and the the Gutsy Walk for Crohn's and Colitis on Sunday, June 5 at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park. The five-kilometre walk is one of more than 60 taking place across Canada. It begins at 11:30 a.m. and includes a barbecue lunch, family activities and live music. Funds raised will support the Crohn's & Colitis Canada's Make it stop. For life. fundraising campaign, which aims to raise $100 million by 2020 to invest in transformational research, patient programs and advocacy so everyone affected can live with less pain, less shame, and fewer hospital visits. Inaugural family effort It will be the Comerfords' first time participating in the event. To date, Jack has raised more than $2,000 for the team he's joined, The Bowel Movers and Shakers. Jack, who enjoys playing the guitar and piano and singing and has saved up enough money to buy computer parts to build his very own computer, says he leads an almost normal life now. He goes to the McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton every two months for about half a day each visit to get Remicade IV infusions, a process he says just doesn't faze him anymore. His parents say being on the medication has allowed him to grow because Crohn's was attacking Jack's ability to absorb nutrients. Jack has also created a video on YouTube about what it's like to have Remicade IV infusions so other parents and children, who are facing a similar situation, have an idea of what it's like in hopes of making it seem "less scary." The video can be viewed on YouTube at http://bit.ly/1O62g5e. Jack says it's important everyone is always kind to one another, because you never know what other people are going through in their lives. He hopes his participation in the Gutsy Walk will help impact the lives of those living with Crohn's and Colitis positively. For more information about the walk, visit www.gutsywalk.ca. Oakville's Jack Comerford is 12, has Crohn's disease and is taking part in the Gutsy Walk for Crohn's and Colitis on Sunday, June 5 at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park. | submitted photo hospital. During it all, Jack said he felt "off," had little energy and just didn't feel well. He also had an inexplicable daily fever. "The 10 months were very difficult because we had to keep positive in the face of ambiguity," said Jack's father Hugh Comerford. The Comerfords admitted they had a number of scares and wrong turns before they got answers. Now, with more knowledge of what Crohn's is and a treatment plan for Jack, that includes intravenous (IV) infusions of the drug Remicade every two months, the family is turning to helping other families in similar circumstances. Jack and his parents are participating in