Meet Shaan

Shaan's Story

Shaan likes a good comeback story. That’s why he cheered on the Kansas City Royals during their World Series run last year, and it’s why he sticks by his hometown Reds through good times and bad.

No wonder Shaan’s own story features a pretty great comeback, too.

When he was six years old, Shaan weighed only 38 pounds. He had constant stomach aches, which limited his ability to play the sports he loved.

“He started praying every night that he would feel better, so we knew this was something serious,” said Shaan’s mom, Summi. She and her husband brought their son to Cincinnati Children’s for testing.

That’s when Shaan was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He was put on a heavy dose of medication to help regulate his immune system, and he began learning how to live with a disease that no one in his family had ever dealt with before. It has been a long journey with plenty of setbacks.

“I’m grateful for everything that Cincinnati Children’s has done for me,” Shaan says. “Having Crohn’s hasn’t been easy, but it’s not everything about who I am. It’s just a part of who I am.”

Now Shaan is doing great! He’s gotten used to his medication and is back up to a healthy weight. During the summer you can catch him playing second base and right field for his youth baseball team. And he’s always up for a trip to Great American Ballpark to watch the Reds.

As a new eighth grader, Shaan has his eyes on some high schools with competitive admissions. But he’s not worried. Shaan knows exactly what it takes to come out on top.

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