Dave Webster enjoys being able to eat whatever he wants, go on long hikes, and live a life free of debilitating inflammatory bowel disease. Photo by Michael Nevaux of UCI Health
David Webster has endured increasingly painful inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for 20 years. In 2009 he had his colon removed and in 2020 he had his rectum removed.
Inspired by the care he received at UCI Medical Center and with the encouragement of Dr. Nimisha Parekh, medical director of the UCI Health IBD Program, he went back to school and became a nurse practitioner in 2017.
The 47-year-old Fontana resident currently works as a traveling nurse and is pursuing a master’s degree.
He is also a volunteer “gastrointestinal buddy” who helps UCI Health’s IBD patients who are having their colons removed understand what happens and shows them that a good life is possible even with a stoma bag.
Webster explains why he helps other IBD sufferers.
“After years of tests, missed diagnoses and ineffective treatments, I was referred to UCI Health and Dr. Parekh. She diagnosed me with Crohn’s disease.
“I was about 30 years old and still had a full-time job as a national sales manager for a motorcycle supply company. But I was also battling this disease, had a high fever, couldn’t eat, and had to go. I couldn’t even sleep because I had to go to the bathroom every 45 minutes.
“Eventually, I became so ill that I was admitted to UCI Medical Center in late 2009, when IBD surgeon Dr. Stephen Mills convinced me that I needed a colectomy. .
“I was scared of surgery. I was scared of having a medical device hanging on my body. I thought it would change my life in a negative way. I wouldn’t be able to do all the things I love. I thought so.
“But the surgery has changed my life 100% for the better. I sleep through the night. I enjoy outdoor activities like deep sea fishing, skeet shooting, and hiking. I also exercise.
“After my first surgery, Dr. Parekh encouraged me to pursue a career in medicine because he thought I could be an inspiration to others who were struggling like I was.
“She was a very positive person and gave me a lot of support. She and Dr. Mills assured me that the surgery would change my life for the better. They were right.”
“When Dr. Parekh asked me to be his GI Buddy, I jumped at the chance to take away people’s fear of the unknown.
“There are so many misconceptions about what people living with an ostomy bag cannot do. I’ll tell them my story.
“And I tell them how my life changed after the surgery and how I found my calling to help patients.
“Thanks to surgery, I am now able to do things I never thought possible.
“I want them to know that they can make decisions about their own lives.”