Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Cape Day honors young patients

ATLANTA – Each year, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta celebrates Cape Day. It’s about honoring young patients who are tackling their health challenges head-on.

One of these brave heroes is doing well two years after being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, thanks in part to the Children’s team and one particular staff member.

Ten-year-old Bennett Richardson loves to do his best on the baseball or basketball field. His championship rings and trophies are a testament to his hard work, but what you don’t see is how hard Bennett works to perform.

The fifth-grade student suffers from Crohn’s disease, a chronic disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. Dr. Chathruckan Rajendra is Bennett’s doctor at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He says that in North America, one in about 10,000 children is diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

“Children with pediatric Crohn’s disease have some pretty significant gastrointestinal symptoms – diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain that can be disabling, vomiting,” he said.

Bennett’s mother, Laura Leigh Richardson, remembers when they were diagnosed two years ago.

“We looked him in the eyes and said, ‘Crohn’s disease doesn’t define you, you define your Crohn’s disease,'” she said.

The diagnosis meant Bennett had to undergo treatment, which included IV fluids.

“I was very scared when I had my first treatment or infusion because I had no idea what was going to happen. I was so scared that I didn’t want to do it at all. I just wanted to go home and not do it.” Bennett recalled.

Then two special helpers turned things around: a child life specialist and a facility dog.

“The relief that showed on his face when Ellie and Flo showed up was like we could do this. Thank you Lord, this is a huge blessing. “Let’s take care of it and persevere and continue to manage his Crohn’s disease in remission,” Richardson said.

The couple helped Bennett with additional treatments along his journey.

“If you’re scared like I was when I first had Crohn’s disease and first met Flo and Ellie, they’re just going to be your heroes, so to speak,” he said.

“I think it’s so important to have facility dogs to help kids feel less stressed and nervous. It can be quite scary for children to come to a large facility and receive therapy,” Rajendra said.

Bennett has come a long way in the two years since his diagnosis. He’s back on the baseball field, doing his best and showing other kids that a diagnosis doesn’t define you.

“You would never know by looking at him that he is an autoimmune warrior and with all the things he is exposed to on a daily basis,” his mother said.

“I don’t like the fact that I have Crohn’s disease, but no one knows and I’m not afraid of it right now,” Bennett said.