Marvin Bush, the youngest son of George H.W. and Barbara Bush, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1985 at the age of 29. During his father's vice presidency, Marvin became extremely ill, lost about 60 pounds, and was admitted to Georgetown University Hospital. His disease was so severe that he ended up having surgery to remove his colon (colectomy). He now has an ileostomy and wears an external pouch to catch the waste that leaves his body through a stoma (a portion of the small intestine that protrudes from the abdomen).
Today, Marvin is active in the IBD community and shares his experiences. He has been a spokesperson for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) since 1991. His mother recorded a series of television and radio public service announcements for the CCFA in 2003.
