[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1197-E1198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING GIDEON SOFER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 2003

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of my 
colleagues to a remarkable constituent from the Sixth District of New 
Jersey, Gideon Sofer. This young man has tremendous determination and 
has recently been recognized as one of America's top ten youth 
volunteers by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This 
distinction carries not only national recognition, but also a $5,000 
award, and $25,000 in toys, clothing and other juvenile products 
donated in his name to needy children in his area by Kids in Distressed 
Situations, Inc.
  Gideon has lived most of his formative years with an incredibly 
painful and often debilitating sickness, Crohn's disease. He has been 
living with this disease since he was diagnosed when he was twelve. 
During the last 6 years, he has been thorough numerous surgeries, and 
has often faced death during the painful procedures. Most people would 
have just been concerned with their survival, but Gideon has turned his 
personal suffering into a quest: to educate the public about Crohn's 
disease.
  In 1932, Dr. Burrill B. Crohn, Dr. Leon Ginzburg, and Dr. Gordon D. 
Oppenheimer published a landmark paper describing the clinical features 
of what is known today as Crohn's disease.
  Crohn's and a related disease, ulcerative colitis, are the main 
divisions of the group of illnesses called inflammatory bowel disease 
(IBD). Because the symptoms of these two illnesses are so similar, 
approximately 10 percent of cases are unable to be diagnosed 
definitively as either ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. In both 
illnesses, there is an abnormal immune response. White blood cells 
infiltrate the intestinal lining, causing chronic inflammation. These 
cells then produce noxious products that ultimately lead to tissue 
injury. When this happens, the patient experiences the symptoms of IBD. 
The precise cause of the chronic inflammation associated with IBD is 
not known.
  Mr. Speaker, Gideon Sofer is an example to us all. He selflessly 
offers his energy to the education of the public about Crohn's. Please

[[Page E1198]]

join me in recognizing this young man and his achievements.

                          ____________________