West Bloomfield event aids diagnosis
and treatment of Crohn's and colitis.

Robert Ortlieb
Special to the Jewish News

N

oah Safian, 15, of West
Bloomfield, diagnosed with
Crohn's disease six years ago, has
good and bad days. Right now, he has more
good days than bad.
When Noah was 9, he began experienc-
ing stomach pain. "He was swimming com-
petitively, and we just thought it was a case
of nerves:' says his mother, Maureen. "But
then he practically stopped eating. He lost
lots of weight and stopped growing"
Today his Crohn's is managed with infu-

sion therapy — much like a chemotherapy
treatment — every six weeks, his mom, a
former nurse, explains.
His chronic condition, which is now in
remission, doesn't prevent him from doing
most things teens enjoy, including playing
on his high school lacrosse team.
"It's definitely been eye-opening. You
never think someone in your family will
develop a chronic disease Maureen says.
Now she and her husband, Robert Safian,
M.D., a Beaumont cardiologist, are part of
a group called conQuest dedicated to rais-
ing funds to support Beaumont's Digestive
Health Center of Excellence in the treat-

ment, education and research of Crohn's
and colitis.
Their first conQuest event is An
Evening of Classic Lily Tomlin" on
Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Berman
Center for the Performing Arts in West
Bloomfield.
"For both of us, it's a personal connec-
tion:' says Dr. Safian. "Since we've gotten
involved, we've come to realize there is a
whole community affected by inflamma-
tory bowel disease. It's something most
people don't like talking about. There is
a need for greater awareness, and a need
to enhance the availability of care and
resources in the community"
Crohn's disease is one condition among
a group called inflammatory bowel dis-
eases. Ulcerative colitis is another IBD.
Together, the two are the most common.
While symptoms of the two diseases are
similar, they usually affect different areas.
Crohn's can affect any part of the gastroin-
testinal tract, usually the small bowel, and
ulcerative colitis affects the large intestine,
also called the colon.
"IBD is characterized by chronic, inter-
mittent inflammation of the GI tract:'
explains James Lynch, M.D., chief, Colon
and Rectal Surgery and physician-in-chief,
Beaumont Hospital, Troy. "Both Crohn's
and ulcerative colitis result in an abnormal

response by the body's immune system.
"While both conditions can be man-
aged, there are presently no cures for these
diseases and they commonly require a
lifetime of care. Both dramatically affect
the quality of life for more than 47,000
Michigan residents, young and old."
The causes of IBD are unknown, but
thought to involve genetic, immuno-
logic and environmental factors. IBD
occurs more in people of Caucasian and
Ashkenazic Jewish origin.
General admission tickets for the event
featuring Detroit native Lily Tomlin are
$150 and include the theater performance
and dessert reception. Tickets can be pur-
chased online at wwwtheberman.org or by
calling the Berman box office at (248) 661-
1900. Theater doors open at 7:30 p.m.

❑

Robert Ortlieb is in media relations at
Beaumont Health System.

Maureen and Dr. Robert Safian

Help For Victims

Jewish organizations mobilize funding
in response to Colorado flooding.

V

arious Jewish organiza-
tions, including the Jewish
Federations of North America
(JFNA) and B'nai B'rith International, are
mobilizing to help the victims of unprec-
edented flooding across Colorado, which
has swept through 15 counties, killing at
least seven people and displacing thou-
sands.
The Jewish community has not escaped
the disaster.
In Boulder, several feet of floodwater
swept into both the Har Hashem Reform
synagogue and Bonai Shalom Conservative
congregation, damaging both buildings,
while the Chabad Lubavitch of Boulder
County also was badly hit. Many commu-
nity members are reporting flooded homes
as well.
So far more than 1,500 homes have been
destroyed in the flooding, which has wiped
out roads and bridges and destroyed or
damaged thousands of homes, businesses
and institutions. Rain continued to fall
Monday, swelling flooded rivers and ham-
pering response efforts.
JFNA has opened a mailbox and online
donation fund, and has provided $50,000

26

September 19 • 2013

JN

in emergency aid to the Allied Jewish
Federation of Colorado as of Sept. 16.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the
people of Colorado:' said Michael Siegal,
JFNA board chair. "Jewish Federations
across North America are working closely
with the Allied Jewish Federation of
Colorado and will do whatever we can to
help those in the Jewish and general com-
munities who are suffering."
The Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado
is taking the lead in assessing needs on the
ground and distributing funds and supplies
throughout the community.
One hundred percent of donations to
the JFNA fund will go to the Allied Jewish
Federation's relief effort. To donate online,
go to http://bit.ly/18quPyo . Funds can be
mailed to Jewish Federations of North
America, Wall Street Station, P.O. Box 157,
New York, NY 10268.
Meanwhile, B'nai B'rith International has
opened its Flood, Tornado and Hurricane
Disaster Relief Fund to benefit Colorado
flooding victims.
Funds raised will be used to help victims
as they rebuild their communities, includ-
ing more than 100 miles of road and 20-30

7.1

Colorado National Guardsman respond to floods in Boulder County, Colo.

bridges that will need repair.
"The destruction and aftermath of this
flood is sure to alter many lives, and B'nai
B'rith would like to help restore some sense
of normalcy to these people said Allan J.
Jacobs, B'nai B'rith International president.
"B'nai B'rith has helped disaster victims
since 1865. Each disaster has its own
unique challenges. As always, we will care-
fully evaluate needs and provide assistance
to address immediate needs and longer-
term rebuilding efforts:'
The B'nai B'rith Flood, Tornado and
Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund aided vic-
tims of Hurricane Sandy in the fall of 2012,

as well as the victims of the Moore, Okla.,
tornado in May 2013. B'nai B'rith disaster
relief funds have also provided aid inter-
nationally, assisting earthquake victims in
Haiti and Japan, and following manmade
disasters, such as the Boston bombing.
To donate through B'nai B'rith, go to
http://bit.ly/18pEpSb, or call (800) 573-
9057 to make a credit card contribution
over the phone. Checks payable to the
B'nai B'rith Disaster Relief Fund can
be mailed to B'nai B'rith International,
Flood, Tornado and Hurricane Disaster
Relief Fund, 2020 K Street NW, 7th Floor,
Washington, D.C. 20006.

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