c & c

when i was in 6th grade, i was diagnosed with crohn's disease. crohn's disease is defined as a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. i was in and out of the hospital throughout middle school, and high school with various complications, dehydration, pancreatitis, etc as my immune system was weakened due to the medicines i was taking. my senior year of high school i became extremely ill, and had to have to my large intestine removed. i became so ill, i was going into acute liver failure and was close to being put on the transplant list. i was airlifted to mayo clinic in rochester, minnesota's icu and hospitalized for about 2-3 months. i missed the majority of the first semester of my senior year of high school.

i am not completely healed from this illness, but have been able to manage it through proper diet, and medication. i want people to be aware of this disease, and although it is not the most glamorous disease (i guess no disease is really glamorous), i want people to know that it doesn't have to take over your life. i have not allowed this disease to control me or what i do and i want other sufferers to know this as well. the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is a foundation that raises awareness and funds to help find the cure for those that are suffering.