Canice Barbone / Diverticular Disease

If you haven't heard or are unaware of the medical nightmare that my mom, Canice Barbone has been through, I will be providing a detailed explanation,and the reason why I feel the Go Fund Me Page is well deserved.



This painful and relentless disease has ravaged her health, body, mind and life for a very long time.  It was nothing more than her commitment to her clients and family, and her true inner strength that kept her moving forward for everyone else at the expense of her own health.    Taking it to a very serious and very life threatening level.


This past November the seriousness of her condition began to rear its ugly head.  By the end of December while most people were celebrating and ringing in a Happy New Year, she was in the ER and ultimately admitted to the hospital where she spent 6 long, lonely and scary days.    In that visit, she learned that that she has Diverticulitits with Abcess.    Her hospital stay was nothing but IV fluids, antibiotics and scary outcomes from surgeons.


She was able to leave the hospital on the 6th, day, but given a new way of eating in which she needed to "clean up food" far more than she ever had.  We all know that her eating wasn't the reason this happened to her.   Many other factors are involved.


Within 4 weeks of getting released from the hospital, it all came back with fury.  All the pain, the swelling, the sharp, unending brutal pain, that just cannot be ignored.   So, she was back in the ER at Foothill Presbyterian Hospital on February 7th.  The CT Scan they ran that night showed the abcess had gotten larger, and the Diverticulitis had gone rampant.   So, of course, she was admitted for another 6 days.   This time the Surgeon she met who took her case is an amazing Dr from the City of Hope.    He spent time with her every day, explaining every issue, every detail, every problem, every possibility....just the best.


It was decided that because of how severe her case was, and how much infection and inflammation was present, that he needed some time to get that all in check, with the outcome of the procedure being perfect.  So the surgery was scheduled for March 5.


Not more than 5 days passed after she was released, and it all began again.  So Dr admitted her into the hospital and she had surgery Feb 25th.   And was in the hospital 7 days after.  Some things are easier said than done.    But not in this case.   Many people have heard of Diverticulitis.  Someone in their family had it once .....But this was over the top,and way beyond, someone having it once.
The surgeon told Chris that the condition her body was in, had no second chances, a MUST heal well outcome and that it was gravely dangerous.


1)  Sigmoid Colectomy:  4 hour surgery.  13 inches of colon removed,  A good chunk of the rectum was removed, along with 3 very suspicious abcesses.   He was fearing they were cancer, but thank God they were not.  The fresh, disease free ends of the colon and rectum are then connected, and must heal without any usage.  Meaning, they cannot pass excrement.


2)  He needed to perform an Ileostomy.   This is when they take a piece of the small intestine, and pull it through on opening on the right abdomen and slice it open, so it now becomes the "waste" system.  An ostomy bag is worn to collect.
This is only a temporary inconvenience, and will be removed.


3)  When the colon/rectum is healed and ready to take over waste management duties, the ostomy is reversed with yet, 1 more surgery, and all is sewn up.


He told mom and Chris that there was far more damage and disease affecting many other organs than initially thought.  He did a fantastic job in cleaning things up and making sure future problems would be avoided.   Big big surgery, and recovery has just begun.


This disease isn't one that just goes away because the damaged areas had been removed.   It is a condition Mom will need to be aware of an on top of for her lifetime.   A new and improved cleaner way of eating and living.


Through this assault on her life, she has not been able to work, exercise and just feel like Canice. It will be many many months before her organs are healed, her abdomen is healed from all the incisions, before she can get herself back into any reasonable fitness shape, and before she can get back into training clients. And you all know how much that means to her.


Your contribution of any amount will be greatly appreciated and valued.


With a grateful and humble heart, 
-Lorelei