For members who haven't heard, IBD specialist Dr. Daniel Present, long-affiliated with Mt. Sinai in NYC & CCFA, died on Jan. 12 of complications from Parkinson's disease. He became a superhero to me in the early 1980s by publishing accurate/informative/readable books for IBDers like the Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Fact Book, with support from CCFA. At that time it was still very hard for a newly-DXed IBDer like myself to find truly helpful information on the best available treatment practices-- so I was finally led in the right direction thanks to his work! A decade later I ran into him near his office and told him on-the-spot how much his book had helped me; my gesture seemed to make him very happy. Longtime patients of his are writing eulogies stating how he saved their colons, etc., but this story especially struck me: on one Christmas he dressed up in a Santa suit & brought a miniature train set to the hospital room of a Crohn's patient to cheer her up; he actually assembled a little scene at her bedside! In recent yrs he had made strong efforts to reassure dysplasia patients that the DX doesn't necessarily require a rush to colectomy, even participating in debates with a younger colleague advocating immediate surgery in most cases. So we have lost a real advocate for our cause ... / Old Hat (35 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

wow, sounds like an awesome man and doctor ! what a privilege for you and all who had a chance to know him -

condolences -

Hi Old Hat!
I am sorry to hear of the death of Dr. Present. I, too, had his book, and read it over and over. In those days, pre-Internet, he gave us information and hope!
I love your description of him in a Santa suit. He was truly a doctor with heart.