CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. — A Lackawanna County boy is making strides against one of the fastest-growing childhood autoimmune disorders.
Connor Pensack, age 6, lives in Clarks Summit. He was diagnosed with Very Early Onset Irritable Bowel Syndrome (VEO-IBS) at just 3 years old.
"He was healthy until he wasn't, and we knew pretty quickly there was something off," Connor's mother, Danielle Pensack, said.
VEO-IBS is one of the fastest-growing autoimmune disorders for kids.
Since his diagnosis, Connor's disease has progressed, and it's been hard to manage.
"He won't be a hospital kid forever. But they said because of his age, constantly growing and changing and medications working and not, for a couple of years, it's going to be a little bit difficult."
Now, he's being seen by the doctors at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He travels back and forth to the city for treatments and participates in research studies.
"There are people in the waiting room that I am with who had to take a flight and rearrange their whole life to get there. We are fortunate to be so close."
Now, Connor's sharing his own story as an ambassador for CHOP's Walk for Hope, raising money for kids like him.
"When they asked us if we would be a part of it, we said absolutely, because how else are they going to find a cure or find medications that work."
Connor, along with his family, created the Connor Pensack Foundation. Last year it raised $15,839 through the inaugural 'Connor's Cup' golf tournament.
Helping others is something Connor wants to continue when he grows up. He has his sights set on being a doctor, just like the one who treats him.
"Last year, the kids that were ambassadors got to hold up the amount of money that they raised. I said you might get to stand on the dugout, too," Danielle said.
Connor's crew will once again round the bases of Citizens Bank Park this June, with each step as a major stride towards hope.
See Healthwatch 16 stories on YouTube.