Our Stories

“When I told my now-husband I had Crohn’s disease early in our relationship, I was very nervous about how he’d react. Instead, he leaned in — asking questions, showing up during hospitalizations and flares, and reminding me that my illness wasn’t ‘too much.’ His support showed me that the right people won’t run from your diagnosis — they’ll walk through it with you.”

“Living with Crohn’s disease and an ostomy has taught me that I can’t do everything — but I can do the things that matter most if I plan for them. I look ahead at my schedule, prioritize what’s important, and build in rest and backup plans. It’s not about missing out — it’s about protecting your energy so you can show up fully for the moments that count.”

“Mental health is a big part of my journey with Crohn’s disease and living with an ostomy. For a long time, I tried to carry everything on my own. Working with mental health providers and tools like gut-directed hypnosis has helped me care for both my mind and my gut. It reminded me that it’s okay to ask for help and that none of us have to go through this alone.”

"The diagnosis actually led me to music again… There’s still a long way to go, living with a lifelong chronic condition that is incurable. But I’m here, ready, and thankful for a second chance at life again."

"Having IBD makes me really appreciate food as fuel and increases my motivation to make the right choices for my body. Eating with IBD in mind has helped me make much healthier choices that could help me live a longer and healthier life than I might have otherwise."

“I feel like a child when I have to tell waiters I can't have raw vegetables in my food due to diet and fear of bowel obstruction – it's frustrating knowing that raw fruits, vegetables, beans, and legumes are amazing for helping your immune system, yet those are the foods I have to be most careful with.”

“I’ve been forming my own community of friends experiencing IBD or whose loved ones have IBD through social media. We check in on one another through our journeys with different treatments and checkups. It helps to not feel alone!”

“My daughter Braylen was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease when she was 6. She is not ashamed that she has IBD. She wears her awareness shirts proudly explaining to all her friends just exactly what it is that she has.”

“I have lived longer with Crohn's Disease than without it. I was diagnosed when there were no commercials for it and no social media pages. I continue to share my testimony to be an example for others that you can overcome your health challenges.”

"The Foundation has given me a voice in research. As a patient reviewer for research grants, I review research proposals and the impact they will have on patients. There are so many more treatment options since I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease 15 years ago."