Aaron's Story

My IBD story may not be that different from many of yours. At age six, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (later, Crohn’s-colitis), a disease my six-year-old self had obviously never heard of. My family was not familiar with IBD either as it was not prevalent in our family. I have tried to live a normal life as much as I could with IBD but it has not always been easy. That first year, I missed nearly half the school year because I was in pain, sick and in/out of the hospital. I remember often feeling helpless and isolated as each medication failed and I continued to miss out on important events in my life. 

When I was 12, I attended Camp Oasis in the summer for the first time and it was a life changing experience. Being at camp with more than 150 other kids going through similar challenges made me more open to sharing my story including some of the gritty and raw moments that we’ve all experienced. That fall, I spoke at a local New England Chapter event in front of 300 people. Over the past few years, I have done a lot of public speaking for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Initially, I thought I was the voice to help those who were uncomfortable telling their story. While I am still happy to be that voice, I now believe we'll be more powerful and better heard if we can all speak out collectively. 

Last year, I created an online resource for young kids and teens. My website is a forum to share your story, as well as a pathway to find resources and confidence boost for kids & teens. Don't forget, Camp Oasis is taking place virtually this year and the NY Camp week is August 17-22. All kids and teens, entering grades 2 – 12 in the fall of 2020, with a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or indeterminate IBD are welcome to register for our virtual camp series. Please CLICK HERE to complete our brief online registration.