I was born in Jacksonville, Florida and moved to Orange County, California at two years old where I lived until I was eighteen. In my youth, I was incredibly active with sports and outdoor activities. I was a competitive cheerleader from elementary school through high school, plus some other sports mixed in. 

​

My junior year of high school arrived and I began to notice I was not feeling well. It was gradual, until suddenly it was not. I was throwing up almost every morning, too exhausted to do any schoolwork, in excruciating pain, and having constant diarrhea. I finally said something is wrong and I need help.

​

My doctor immediately ran blood work and suspected either Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. When we got the blood work, my doctor was in shock. I was deficient in multiple vitamins, had inflammation markers through the roof, and I was suffering from severe anemia. I was instantly referred to a specialist, then another one, and very soon after, was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I was sixteen years old. At first, honestly I was too exhausted to process any real emotion about the diagnosis but I could not admit to myself, “I have Crohn’s Disease.”  I was terrified to accept that I had an incurable disease. It was hard to accept back then and sometimes it still is. Knowing that my own body was causing my pain, I felt betrayed.

​

I started treatment immediately that included monthly infusions and a handful pills every morning. 

​

Through all four years of college, I struggled with symptoms, changing medications, and the side effects from those medications. I ended up in the emergency room multiple times from a variety of infections (Strep throat, kidney infection, etc.). Crohn’s medication suppresses my immune system, denying my body the ability to fully fight infections. This means, I am more likely to get sick and it is more likely to be worse. My senior year, I was in the process of changing medications when I noticed my symptoms were getting worse instead of better. The pain was like nothing I had ever experienced. Riding in a car became painful; every bump was like someone stabbing me in the gut. I finally went to my Dr. and she immediately admitted me to the emergency room where I stayed for five days with an infection of C. difficile.

​

After six weeks on antibiotics there was no change to the infection. My doctor told me the best option now was to operate. She told me we needed to remove about six inches of my small and large intestine. She knew I was terrified, and did her best to make the surgery seem smaller and less scary.  We scheduled all the appointments and got my surgery booked for April 6, 2016- just a month and a half before my college graduation. My surgery day arrived and went well. I spent three days in the hospital recovering and ensuring the surgery was a success. I was up and walking around as soon as possible, determined to get out of the hospital pronto.

 

For the first six weeks after my surgery, I was essentially useless. I was unable to lift anything over ten pounds, about the equivalent of a gallon of milk. I could not grocery shop by myself, I couldn't do laundry by myself, I couldn't lift my backpack to go to class. Thankfully, my family and friends were the best support I could ask for. A few weeks after the surgery, I finally started to feel better. I was feeling better than I had in months- almost like I was a twenty-one year old about to graduate college.

That final semester I did not give myself enough credit for what I went through- I didn't realize the gravity of the situation until much later. Despite the health issues, I made Deans List that semester.

 

I started a new medication after my surgery and began to feel better. Still, I was unable to achieve remission. That was when I extended my search for wellness outside of my doctors. I was sick of feeling sick. I began conducting my own research and looking for what other people have found works for them. I had already stopped eating meat and dairy because I knew those were trigger foods for me. But something still was missing.

 

I turned to natural solutions, falling in love with essential oils and taking a hard look at my lifestyle as a whole. I added more regular exercise, more tactics to manage stress, more fruits and vegetables, consumed less processed food, drinking items with caffeine and alcohol less often, and increasing my water consumption.

For the first time since my diagnosis I am proud to say, “I have Crohn’s Disease.” Every time I meet someone with Crohn’s, the experience is a beautiful reminder that I am not alone on this journey, and that we all have different stories and struggles. This disease has shown me I am stronger and more resilient than I ever thought. It has also put an invaluable price on health for me. I will never take for granted my health because I know what life is like without it. My journey with health is just beginning and I continue to work everyday towards my goal of eliminating Crohn's-related medication.