Mackenzie H

My name is Mackenzie Hood. I am currently a freshman at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. I am pursuing a double major in Dance Performance and Psychology, while also completing my Pre-Physical Therapy requirements. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease on December 11, 2015, during my freshman year of high school, when I was 14 years old. I was immediately put on a biologic and have received infusions every four to five weeks ever since then. I am very lucky that this medication has controlled my inflammation, allowing me to remain in remission for the majority of these four years, but up until this fall I still had many unexplained symptoms that greatly effected my day to day life. Throughout high school, I had test after test done and was put on many supplemental medications, none of which worked. Finally, this summer right before I left for college, my doctor increased my biologic dosage and put me on a medication to treat the damaged nerves in my colon and my symptoms were finally relieved. Since my quality of life has improved, I have felt much happier. My Crohn's has impacted many parts of my life but especially my dance training. I have pre-professionally trained in ballet for 15 years, and the pain and sometimes embarrassing symptoms have made it very difficult to continue to do what I love. However, I have continued to push through the struggles to allow myself to keep dancing and performing at a collegiate level. My IBD has caused me a lot of pain and hardship, but it has also brought me great maturity and personal growth. Throughout my journey, I have had many amazing opportunities to share my story and bring awareness to my community. During my senior year of high school, I organized and lead an IBD awareness event in partnership with my local university's baseball team. Because of my Crohn's, I have had the privilege of meeting so many amazing and inspiring people who have made a forever impact on my life. I am so thankful for this opportunity to serve as a member of the NCCL as I hope to continue to make a difference in the lives of students and patients who struggle daily from IBD just like me.
I think the hardest part about IBD is that it is an invisible illness, so it can be very lonely sometimes and very difficult to communicate with others to help them understand what this disease is really like. I think that by building a community like this, we are able to help support and lift each other up when we need it most. And as just a reminder to all of you amazing fighters: IBD does not define you, but your courage and strength does!