Pediatric Gastroenterology
![Lauren Shields](https://www.nyp.org/enewsletters/advances-monthly/2019-02/email-advances-2019-02_01_full.jpg)
Lauren Shields had been a healthy, active 8-year-old attending third grade in the New York City suburb of Stony Point, when her life took a direction that no one could have predicted. She lost her appetite, her belly became bloated, and she had a hard time moving her bowels. Overcome by fatigue, she looked for reasons not to participate in gym class, like leaving her sneakers at home.