Rachel Stackiewicz (Pennsylvania)

Rachel S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

School: University of Pittsburgh

Major: Communications

Hometown: Murrysville, PA

My name is Rachel. I am a junior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Communications with minors in Nonprofit Management and Education. Outside of my passion for patient advocacy, I also love to sing, go on bike rides, and bake. I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when I was 11 years old. I had a lot of stomach aches and fevers prior to this, and I was diagnosed shortly after with a colonoscopy and CT Scan. I was put on a strict nutrition-drink diet for a year and a half until I had a bowel resection later. Since then, I have felt fairly well, with minor problems throughout my journey. I have been going to Camp Oasis since I was 13 years old, and I am now a counselor. I love going to camp to help kids learn about their disease and ways to deal with it. I have made many lifelong friends through camp, and I plan to keep going back. I have also been involved with my local chapter as an intern, and every year I participate in the Take Steps walk, Night of Steel and Spin4 event. I am very excited to continue expanding my connections of others that advocate for IBD. Meeting others that deal with the same disease as I do allows me to feel comfortable speaking out about the problems I have and the solutions I have found to help.