Des Moines Register
09-29-06
ISU receiver thanks God for health
Chron's disease caused his weight to drop 35 pounds
By RANDY PETERSON
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Ames, Ia. - If she could, Shirley Moses personally would thank everyone who
pulled for what has become her son Milan's successful recovery from a disease
she initially thought only to be diarrhea, but later discovered could be lifethreatening.
"I'd love to meet everyone and just give them a big ol' hug for helping the doctors
save my boy, because once I started reading up on Crohn's, I learned that some
people die from Crohn's complications," she said. "I know I won't be able to do
that, but I know one thing - I'll pray for them all, just like they prayed for my son."
Now recovered from the disease from which an estimated 50,000 people die
annually, according to the U.S. Department of Health, the junior receiver for Iowa
State via Waterloo East High School could see significant action when the
Cyclones play Northern Iowa on Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.
"He's going to get to do something I never got a chance to do," said Jerry Moses,
Milan's father and Iowa State tailback from 1968-70. "I never got to play against
Northern Iowa when I was a Cyclone."
The only reason Milan has that chance is because surgery cured the intestinal
disease that caused his weight to dip from 195 pounds to 160. He played 10
snaps two weeks ago against Iowa, and 11 last Saturday against Texas.
"I'm feeling as great as ever," said Moses, who is second on the depth chart
behind Austin Flynn. "I'm healthy now. I'm feeling all the way up to par. God truly
has been amazing for me."
Moses received prayers and phone calls from strangers, including Norman Lee,
a member of the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1940s, who learned of Moses'
situation via the Internet after his struggle with the disease became public a year
ago.
"Milan's faith, and the prayers of people everywhere, pulled him through this,"
Jerry said. "Like it says in Colossians 3:23:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart . . ."
Milan battled Crohn's throughout last season, but still played in eight games.
"I had good days and bad days," he said.
The disease causes inflammation in the small intestine and affects 1 out of 400
people annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health.
"Crohn's can be a very serious condition," Ames physician Jon Fleming said,
speaking in generalities.
Doctors discovered the illness in December 2004 after Moses experienced
stomach pain, weight loss, fever and diarrhea.
"He couldn't hold anything down," Shirley Moses said. "It was like he was living in
the bathroom. We just thought he ate something that gave him diarrhea."
Moses regained his health through surgery, medicine and a diet that consisted of
less sugary and less fatty foods.
"In the Bible, God healed a lot of people with a lot of bad diseases," Milan said.
"And when he heals you, good things will happen. That's what it says in
Colossians."
". . . as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an
inheritance from the Lord as a reward."
Moses attended the Houston Bowl with his teammates last December, but did
not play.
"I was feeling pretty good, though, so I thought I'd spend a few days down in
Houston after the game with my brother."
His brother, J.J., lives in Houston after playing for Iowa State from 1997-00, but
the visit became another Crohn's nightmare.
"Milan got sick again, and J.J. ended up taking him to a hospital in Houston,"
Shirley Moses said. "J.J. rushed him to the emergency room, and when doctors
looked at him, they discovered he had a kink in his colon."
Milan returned to Ames after Houston doctors corrected the problem, then he
again was hospitalized.
"He had another emergency surgery, and this time, it was because his colon
ripped, causing bad stuff like poison to leak out into his system," Jerry recalled.
"The doctors cut out 9 centimeters of his colon, and by doing that, they say they
also got all the Crohn's out.
"We're so thankful. Milan's so thankful, and like it says in Colossians
". . .It is the Lord you are serving."
Milan reads that passage daily.
"Whatever you do in life, no matter who's watching and how many people are
watching, give great effort and do it the best way that you can," Milan said.
He lives by that because he knows Crohn's can return at any time.
"But my faith is strong enough that I don't think that will happen," he said. "And
when I've got all those people praying for me that helped pull me through this - I
feel like I'm the luckiest guy in the world."