My brother was diagnosed with Crohn's in 7th grade and I suffered with Crohn's for about 2 years before I was diagnosed and treated. I went to several doctors and they would say “It’s just acid reflux,” or “It could be a UTI.” I was vomiting at least once every two weeks and had excessive abdominal pain, and I had no clue why. The summer before my junior year, I woke up with excessive pain on my lower right stomach. It hurt to even walk it was so bad. I almost passed out in the shower from the pain and my parents took me to the hospital. They first thought it was my appendix, but after further tests they then realised I had an intestinal blockage due to inflamation caused by Crohns. They treated me for Crohn’s and I went home. Two weeks later, I was vomiting again and couldn’t stop. The doctors put a tube up my nose to pump out everything in my stomach and told me that I would need surgery. They also told me that I would have an ileostomy bag for at least two months. This was a difficult time for me as well as my parents because we all had to deal with all the complications that come along with having an ileostomy bag. On October 5th of 2018, I got my ileostomy bag removed and I am doing much better now. I still have Crohn’s, and I always will. I know that having a disease like Crohns can be devistating to some people because it changes a lot in a persons life but, to me, I beleive that it has helped to make me a better person with a stronger drive to persevere in the face of adversity thanks to the support of my family, friends, and doctors. I plan on using my voice to speak up for people with IBD, which is why I started this fundrasier.
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