Our Stories

These special people inspire us with laughter and wisdom. Read their personal stories -- or share one of your own.

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Patient story

Aaron's Story

Clinical trial story

Melissa's Story

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at 17 years old as a senior in high school and completely refused to believe that anything was wrong with me. I quickly went through medication after medication until graduating to biologic medications. I had some limited success on biologics but even those medications were not helping to heal my digestive system.

Clinical trial story

Madelynn's Story

Tania H., a Clinical Trials Ambassador shares her daughter, Madelynn’s story.

Clinical trial story

Michelle's Story

I was diagnosed with severe ulcerative colitis (UC) 12 years ago when I was 12. I honestly can’t remember what life was like when I was diagnosed. I remember originally being told I was lactose intolerant. As time went on and the Lactaid pills weren’t helping, my mom, who had UC herself, knew what was going on. All the symptoms I was experiencing were consistent with ulcerative colitis. A colonoscopy was performed and it confirmed that I had a severe case of it.

Clinical trial story

Angela's Story

In April ‘17, I was your typical 18-year-old; trying to figure out what to do with my life. Then, I seemed to be atypical. The majority of society excretes normal looking waste, while I was excreting red waste in excess and this issue didn’t go away. Finally, I was diagnosed in May ‘17 with severe ulcerative colitis by a pediatric gastroenterologist [GI] at 19. I was on oral and/or liquid medications/supplements, one of which was Iron supplements for about 3 months. The medications for my colon worked fine, but they weren’t long term medications. This pediatric GI doctor didn’t seem very knowledgeable about IBD [inflammatory bowel disease]. After using up my medications, not seeing the Pediatric GI, and changing insurances, I finally ended up seeing 2 adult gastroenterologists in the month of November ‘17. The 1st one told me to see the 2nd one because “my case was too severe to know what to do”. When I saw the 3rd gastroenterologist, my Iron levels were very low again since I was on no medications until I started the infamous IBD steroid when I saw the 2nd GI doctor.

Clinical trial story

Amy's Story

My journey started 17 years ago with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. I am currently the first and only member of my family who has an autoimmune disease. I struggled with the disease for many years before I found a doctor who told me I did not have to take a steroid to achieve remission. To say that I was relieved is an understatement!

Clinical trial story

Nick's Story

My journey with IBD started when I was around 14 years old. I had a series of ear and eye infections and had to go on multiple antibiotics over the course of about a year. Shortly after that time I began to experience many symptoms of IBD including bloody stool, diarrhea, pain, fatigue, and extreme weight loss. People around me noticed and would comment about how skinny I had gotten or how pale I was. Over the next few years, I spent a lot of time at the doctor getting blood tests and colonoscopies, and ultimately was never diagnosed with anything specific. The treatment of choice was an aminosalicylate medication and my symptoms mostly subsided.

Clinical trial story

Brittany’s Story

I was diagnosed with severe Crohn’s disease at the age of 19. I tried over 60 medications to alleviate my symptoms, yet nothing touched a single symptom. I was passed around from doctor to doctor for 17 years before having a lifesaving surgery to remove my entire colon in 2015. I was left with a permanent ileostomy. I regret that I’m still not doing well, but I’m thankful I made it through the surgery and no longer have my diseased colon.

Clinical trial story

Kira's Story

Kristen F., a Clinical Trials Ambassador shares her daughter, Kira’s story.

Clinical trial story

My Heroes

My first time to ever hear the words “Crohn’s disease” was 19 years ago (2000) when a young woman that I attended church with made a request. Her name is Angela and she was searching for a person who would be available to drive her from Sheridan, Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee every eight weeks for a treatment. At the time she was participating in a clinical trial for an arthritis drug, which had shown promise in treating Crohn’s disease patients. I volunteered for the job and over the next year, Angela thoroughly educated me about IBD and informed me that Crohn’s was “just something I live with but doesn’t define who I am.” Our trips to Memphis that year made us forever friends and introduced me to a chronic illness that would one day change my own life as well.