Our Stories

Abby Shelley, of Nashville, Tennessee, opens up about her battle with Crohn's disease and why she's advocating for step therapy reform in her state.

Samantha Rynearson, a patient advocate from Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, shares her battle with Crohn's disease, her fight for effective treatment, and why she's calling on state and federal legislators to pass step therapy reform.

Watching her family battle Crohn's disease inspired Shauntae Catina to speak up for those suffering inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Today, she spends her time spreading IBD awareness in the African American community, and helping patients fight insurance-mandated “fail first” policies in her home city, Atlanta, Georgia.

Sydney Arnold is a patient advocate from Mesquite, Texas. Learn more about her battle with Crohn's disease and insurance-mandated step therapy.

When Crohn's disease put Melissa Freeman's life on hold, insurance-mandated step therapy delayed her treatment even further. Now, she's dedicated to raising awareness of step therapy reform in her home city, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sabrina's daughter, Emilia, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at just 8 years old. Since then, Emilia has participated in three clinical trials in the hopes of helping other children with IBD.

When there are no other options aside from a major surgery, the chance of finding something that can make a real difference is like the light at the end of the tunnel.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 21 years old. I initially responded to oral treatments well, but my quality of life began to plummet about a year and a half after I was diagnosed. I was malnourished, had no energy, and I was using the bathroom close to 20 times a day. I was hospitalized with a case of Clostridium difficile (C. diff). At that time, the doctors gave me the option of either trying biologics to calm the inflammation or removing my colon. I chose surgery because I thought it would end the pain and suffering that I had been experiencing without the risk of potential side effects related to biologic medicines.

I was 6 years old when I was diagnosed with indeterminate colitis in September of 2005. What happened during the first few years with my disease is a combination of my memories and what my mom has told me. For three years, I was in and out of hospitals, trying different medications, and hoping to reach the light at the end of the tunnel called remission. Eventually, after trying multiple medications including a biologic, I finally found a treatment combination that worked.