Palos Heights Teen Brings Awareness and Funds to Crohn's Disease

Connor Mish was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when he was seven years old. In the years since he has had to undergo numerous hospital stays, weeks of missed school and cope with an often debilitating disease.

Early on Connor, now 14, decided to not let his disease define his life, but instead to let his experiences define his character.

"It's a hard struggle and it will probably only get worse as I get older," Connor said." But you just have to take it one step at a time and you keep trying and fighting as hard as you can because it gets better at times."

The Walk

Last Sunday Connor and his family participated in the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation's walk in Lisle. Before the walk they held a kick-off party at the . It has become an annual tradition for the family, one that raises over $10,000 a year.

Connor's mother, Susan Mish, says her son's positive outlook serves as an inspiration to everyone in their family.

"He was the first one that said he wanted to go on this walk," Susan said. "He wanted to get involved and find out ways that we could help."

The event draws family, neighbors and a large group of Connor's classmates from .

"It does bring awareness to the community and how much it affects people, not just me," Connor said.

Crohn's disease is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the digestive tract and can often be debilitating to sufferers.

Last year after starting a new medication Connor's heart stopped and he had to be resuscitated.

"When I start talking about that I go back to the image of all these people around me, lights flashing, it was scary," he said.

In the past year his health has improved. He reached his goal of being in the National Junior Honor Society at school and starts high school at in the fall. Connor says he has every intention of continuing to advocate for his disease.

After a fundrasier in fifth grade raised about $2,000, the Mish family estimates that they have raised about $75,000 for Crohn's disease.

Through it all, Connor keeps a positive attitude and participates in a wide range of activities. He plays the saxophone in band, plays soccer, is on student council, participates in his church choir and is interested in photography.

"Part of what makes me so proud of him is that he just doesn't stop," Susan said. "He refuses to let this disease dictate his life."

Community Support

The gym of the Palos Heights Recreation Center was filled with Connor's friends and family, many of whom weren't shy about hitting the dance floor.

"To have this many kids and this many friends from the church ,the school, our  neighbors and family it's just amazing," Susan said. 

The annual event goes off without a hitch thanks to donations from Palos-area businesses. This year the food was provided by , the DJ was Electric Blue Entertainment and limo drivers from Allegiance Limo and Affinitiy Limo  drove the entire team to the walk.

This year about 75 people were part of "Connor's Courageous Crew."

"He has his faults like any other kid, but I will say he is growing up to be more of an amazing young man than I ever dreamed," Susan said.

To hear Connor's friends talk about the event and his fundrasing efforts watch the attached video.