Neal Morrison with his wife, Jaclyn, and their first daughter, Charlotte, in 2005. They also have a one-year-old daughter, Sofia. (Photograph courtesy of Dave and Rosalie Morrison) Rosalie Morrison of Pickford is seeking help and donations for her son, Neal, a 1997 Pickford High School graduate, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis earlier this year.

Mr. Morrison, 27, is one of seven children of Dave and Rosalie Morrison, Pickford residents since 1990. He was graduated from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant and has been teaching special education in Arlington, Texas, for the past four years. He lives with his wife, Jaclyn, and two daughters, Charlotte, 3, and Sofia, 1, in Texas, and is the family's sole supporter, Mrs. Morrison said. He no longer has any sick leave available from his employer and must take unpaid sick days to treat his illness, she noted. He has not been healthy enough to work and his wife recently started working as a waitress to supplement the family's income and pay for treatment.

Ulcerative colitis is a debilitating disease that causes ulcers in the lining of the colon. It also causes severe inflammation and digestive disorders, and increases the patient's risk of colon cancer.

Treatment is lengthy and requires drug therapy to coax the disease into remission, she said, or to at least control the symptoms. Even with remission, the disease symptoms are expected to return again, she noted, and surgery may be required.

Mrs. Morrison said her son lost 70 pounds in three weeks, which is unsafe and has weakened him.

"Food and medicine do not absorb and digest well with this illness," she added. "The stress he is going through now is not helping his illness."

Donations can be sent to Neal Morrison at 907 Meadowbrook Lane, Mansfield, TX 76063, or to Rosalie Morrison at 7398 North M-129, Pickford, MI 49774. People can inquire about Mr. Morrison's condition by calling Rosalie Morrison at (906) 647- 2959.