IBD Connect's HistoryIBD Connect Inc. was founded by Lisa Fournier after her oldest daughter, Jaimee, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2018. Prior to Jaimee’s diagnosis, Lisa already had plenty of experience with IBD. Her youngest daughter, Randi, began her journey with Crohn’s disease in 2002 at the age of four. At this time, Lisa had to quickly learn how to balance Randi’s needs with the needs of her three other children, as well as her professional responsibilities. When Randi began middle school, Lisa felt as though Randi could benefit from interacting with other IBD patients her own age. To her surprise, there were not any local pediatric IBD support groups in the Worcester county area. Lisa and Randi’s desire to interact with and encourage other IBD families was strong, and rather than giving up, they decided to start their own support group at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, MA. The support group placed special emphasis on caring for the entire family, as they realized that an IBD diagnosis not only impacts the child, but the child’s loved ones as well. As the group continued to grow and expand, they quickly realized that the need for IBD support was not just limited to their family! When Lisa’s oldest daughter, Jaimee, was diagnosed with IBD, Lisa made the bold decision to expand her support group into a nonprofit organization. IBD Connect, Inc. was born!
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