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North Georgia 5-year-old battles Hirschsprung’s, raises awareness

Austin Ware takes a look at his son Colton's port on his stomach. Colton must use the opening of the tube attached to his colon to insert a saline solution every night.
Austin Ware takes a look at his son Colton's port on his stomach. Colton must use the opening of the tube attached to his colon to insert a saline solution every night. Austin Ware takes a look at his son Colton's port on his stomach. Colton must use the opening of the tube attached to his colon to insert a saline solution every night.

By Kelsie Bowman 4 min read

photo Colton Ware

Facts about Hirschsprung’s

It’s a condition a person is born with.It occurs in 1 in every 5,000 births, more often in males.The earlier it is diagnosed, the better chance surgery can be performed before the colon ruptures, which could be life-threatening.Symptoms include absence of a bowel movement in the first 48 hours of life, distension of the abdomen, vomiting, fever and diarrhea.Source: nationwidechildrens.org

From watching 5-year-old Colton Ware wrestle with his 4-year-old brother Easton, he seems like a completely normal and boisterous kindergartner.

His favorite superheroes are Spiderman and Ironman. He likes to play Mario Cart, and he vehemently denies having multiple girlfriends in his class at school, though his dad Austin Ware teases him otherwise.

You’d never guess that Colton’s spent the majority of his life in terrible pain.

At four days old, he was rushed to the hospital, his infant skin a terrifying shade of purple in his septic state. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with a rare disease called Hirschsprung’s.