Our Stories

“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."

"I went to a Foundation support group after I was diagnosed with Crohn's and it was fantastic. I made friends, heard stories and shared information. I now run three support groups. It's empowering for me and everyone who attends."

Kagan first started experiencing symptoms when she was beginning her senior year of high school. It took three months for doctors to ultimately diagnose her with ulcerative colitis. Kagan credits the Foundation with being a crucial piece of her journey. “Just knowing I could log onto the Foundation website and get trustworthy facts and connect with people who have gone through exactly my situation has been so comforting,” Kagan says. “There’s nowhere else to go for this kind of information!” Your generosity will help ensure young people like Kagan get the information and support they need.

Jackson’s symptoms began on Halloween night when he was 10 years old. A few days later, he ended up in the emergency room, and by Thanksgiving, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Throughout middle school, Jackson was frequently absent from school due to his disease. He loved playing tennis, but sadly, IBD kept him off the court. Today Jackson refuses to let ulcerative colitis define him. Thanks to medication and nutritional therapy, Jackson has reached and maintained remission. And he’s back to playing tennis! Your gift today will help us offer support to IBD patients like Jackson.

When Addy was eight, she started experiencing horrific symptoms. Her health just kept getting worse and she was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease. Today, Addy is a confident teenager who loves to help others who live with IBD. Addy found comfort at Camp Oasis, the Foundation’s weeklong summer program for kids with IBD. “The second I arrived, I felt at home. For the first time since my diagnosis, I was surrounded by people who truly understood me and my needs.” Your ongoing support will help other kids like Addy have great experiences at Camp Oasis.

When I was a young teen, I began having stabbing stomach pains and horrible acid reflux. It took more than a year before I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and another 10 before I received the medical treatment I needed in order to live a full life. I am still coming to terms with the fact that I suffered unnecessarily for years in large part because my doctors followed an insurance protocol known as step therapy.

When I was 15 years old, my Crohn’s disease flared, and I lost half my body weight within six months because I couldn’t eat normal foods. I was so relieved when the nutrition shakes my doctor recommended allowed me to gain weight and get my Crohn’s under control. But I couldn’t believe that our insurance company wouldn’t pay, just because the nutrition wasn’t coming through a tube inserted in my body.