Triumph Over Crohn's Disease: Jaiden's Journey from Struggle to Joy

In March of 2022, Jaiden started experiencing issues while going to the bathroom. Jaiden Comeaux’s mother, Regina Otkins, remembered the cries from behind the bathroom door. “Every time he went to the bathroom he would just scream,” said Regina. “We knew what he was going through, but we didn't really know how to help,” Regina admitted.  

At first, she thought Jaiden might just be struggling with constipation. They tried all the normal remedies: stool softener, more water, and fiber. They hoped it would heal on its own, but as time went on, the situation worsened. 

Additionally, Jaiden didn’t seem to be growing at a normal rate. “I began to notice that he was losing weight, but I thought that was because he was just a really picky eater,” described Regina. “He would never have energy. We would go places, and he would just be really tired all the time and was really drained.”   

Her concerns became so great that they took Jaiden to the emergency room. Doctors first prescribed an ointment and ran tests to rule out any possible infections. Later, they saw a dermatologist. Regina did her own research on the internet and even tried soothing baths for Jaiden. “I tried to do as much as I could to help him,” Regina said. “Nothing was working.”  

That’s when things got worse. “He started getting a fever almost every night,” said his mother. “We were going through Tylenol and Motrin just really quick.” Soon, Jaiden’s doctors realized what was happening might be more serious. 

She took Jaiden to see a gastrointestinal specialist at Children’s Hospital New Orleans in an effort to look more closely at what was going on inside his body, rather than outside. She says Dr. Patricio Arias decided quickly they would need a colonoscopy and endoscopy so they could truly see what was going on. “Immediately, he mentioned Crohn’s,” said Regina. Jaiden was quickly admitted to Children’s Hospital New Orleans. 

“This was the first time that any doctor really said ‘hey, we need to look inside and see what's happening,’” said Regina, relieved that doctors were finally going to look more deeply into whatever was happening. “Everything was happening so fast,” she said.  

The colonoscopy and endoscopy were completed without incident, and they confirmed what doctors suspected. Jaiden’s trouble stemmed from Crohn’s disease, a chronic condition that may come and go at different times in your child’s life, causing redness, swelling, and sores along the digestive tract.

He received an infusion of Infliximab, which is a medicine used to treat moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. “Jaiden was fine, he slept through the whole thing,” said Regina. “For the first treatment, we instantly saw results. When he went to the restroom, he didn’t cry!” Regina remembered. “He was like, ‘It didn’t hurt Mommy! It didn’t hurt! It didn’t hurt!’” 

Jaiden's follow-up visits to the Inflammatory Bowel Disease clinic at Children’s Hospital New Orleans have been remarkably positive. He's had consultations with doctors and nutritionists, and despite being underweight, he isn’t on a restricted diet. He drinks 2-3 nutritional supplement shakes as part of his daily routine, which are helping him gain weight and boosting his energy levels. The once-tired little boy who rarely wanted to play outside now can't seem to sit still. He’s developed a love for chicken, enjoying it in every form imaginable. his mother shared. After a successful second treatment, Jaiden continues to thrive. “He’s a normal six-year-old!” she added. “I’m just trying to keep up! He has so much energy and seems so happy.” 

To learn more about treatment for Crohn’s disease and other gastrointestinal disorders, visit this informative page from the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans.