Sweeney

The YouTube music video opens with a gray cat running through a backyard. It cuts to a guy singing with obvious feeling about feeling closed in and trapped. He sings of burning sensations. He chases the cat as it escapes the yard. The scene cuts to a toilet?

Jordan Sweeney, 23, suffers from ulcerative colitis, truly suffers.

"Every time I have a flare-up, the best thing to do is cry and let it all out," Sweeney of Camarillo said. "It makes you feel better.

"I listen to good music to pass the time," he said. "I also write songs during my flare-ups. It's when I'm most lyrically prolific."

In the past four months, his video for "Is This Over Now?" has been viewed a relatively few 1,500-plus times, but the catchy melodic tune does garner a full five-star rating among its viewers and a number of positive reviews and well-wishes from fellow sufferers and others.

Since being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 20, Sweeney, who used to be in the local band Skywalker until his disease proved too much of an impediment to touring, has made it his mission to spread the word about ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

He has been appearing around the country as part of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America's Take Steps program, which is a series of fundraising walks dedicated to people with the diseases.

Most recently, Sweeney played his music during last weekend's Take Steps Walk at UCLA.

Sweeney said his video addresses what it's like to have ulcerative colitis.

"Basically the song is: Is this ever going to end? Are we going to find a cure? Is this going to be my lifestyle, always being by a toilet? Am I ever going to be able to do what I want to do?'" he said.

"I like to add humor to spread awareness with a positive attitude."

He said the responses posted to his video from other Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis sufferers who relate to his songs inspire him to continue spreading his message.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are autoimmune disorders that cause people to develop sores in either their intestines or colon.

Scientists and doctors aren't sure what exactly triggers the illness, although it appears the body inappropriately attacks the normal bacteria found in the digestive tract. The sores, which are similar to cold sores, bleed and are filled with pus, causing the colon to swell. Any bodily wastes have trouble passing through the inflamed colon, which makes bowel movements extremely painful.

"It feels like there's glass coming out. Every single time there's pain and there's nothing you can do," Sweeney said.

Travel becomes difficult for Crohn's and ulcerative colitis sufferers because they need to use the toilet frequently. At present there is no known cure for either condition, although symptoms can be controlled in some sufferers with medication.

Those who don't respond to medication or have other complications may ultimately have to have an ileostomy, where the diseased colon is removed and bodily wastes drain into a pouch attached to the abdomen.

Sweeney said he has been able to deal with the disease with the help of his wife, Katie, who is pregnant with the couple's first child.

"She's been there from the beginning to the end. She's such a good support for me," he said.

He also has found relief, for now, in the drug Remicade, which seems to lessen his symptoms.

Sweeney said he became involved with the CCFA after he posted some videos of his songs on YouTube and someone from the group contacted him.

"I've played in Tennessee, Philadelphia and Austin, Texas. It's been great," Sweeney said.

He decided to start spreading the word about his condition because when he was diagnosed, almost no one he encountered even knew what Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis was or how debilitating it can be to those who have either condition.

Sweeney wants to change that and he's not going to let the admitted "ewww factor" get in the way of spreading his message.

"I'm a straightforward guy and I explain everything," he said.

Sweeney doesn't worry that his songs will appeal to only those people who also suffer from the same illness.

"I had someone listen to (his song) In the Dark' and thought it was about relationships," he said. "There's plenty of stuff that everyone can relate to."

Sweeney is currently putting the finishing touches on his second CD, "Road to Recovery," scheduled to be released in the next two weeks.

While he finds his day job as food and beverage manager at Spanish Hills Country Club is demanding, Sweeney is able to relax and spend his free time using his music to spread his message.

"I'm always looking for gigs on my time off," he said.

Jordan Sweeney's music can be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ii65z7w0iM and on his Web site, at http://www.jordansweeney.com.

For more information about ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, visit http://www.ccfa.org.