My Battle With Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn’s: Why I Need Your Help

In 2019, at 30 years old, my life changed in a way I never could have imagined.

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn’s disease — a chronic, unpredictable, and often invisible illness that affects my digestive system but touches every single part of my life. Since then, over 7 years have passed, and I have been in a constant battle with my own body.

I’m sharing my story because this disease has taken my health, my stability, and my peace of mind. I’m raising money to help cover the mounting medical costs and the financial impact of living with a chronic illness that refuses to let up.

What This Disease Really Looks Like for Me

For many people, a “bad stomach” might mean a rough day or two.

For me, living with UC/Crohn’s means:

- **Hospitalizations almost every year** because of severe flares  

- **Blood transfusions** when my body is so depleted it can’t function on its own  

- **Regular injections, medications, tests, scopes, and exams** that are exhausting both physically and emotionally  

- Planning my life around bathrooms, symptoms, and pain levels  

- Never knowing when the next flare will hit or how bad it will be.

This isn’t just a physical illness — it’s a constant mental and emotional toll. It’s waking up and wondering, *“Will today land me in the hospital?”*

The Cost: Health, Work, and Peace of Mind

This disease does not just live in my medical files. It has spilled into every area of my life.

Because of repeated flares and hospital stays, I have:

- **Lost jobs and work opportunities**  

- **Lost income** during times I physically could not work or had to take unpaid leave  

- Faced medical bills, copays, medications, procedures, and travel to appointments that feel never-ending  

- Lost a sense of stability and control over my life

It’s hard to explain what it feels like to want so badly to be “reliable” — as an employee, a friend, a family member — and to have your body constantly pull that away from you.

This illness has cost me more than money. It has cost me my **peace of mind**. Instead of planning for my future, I often find myself just trying to survive the present.

Why I’m Raising Money

I am fundraising to help cover:

- **Ongoing medical expenses**  

  - Hospital visits and stays  

  - Specialist appointments  

  - Procedures, scopes, and necessary testing  

  - Medications and injections  

- **Basic living expenses during flares**  

  - Rent, utilities, and essentials when I’m unable to work  

  - Transportation to and from appointments and hospitals  

- **Stabilizing my life so I can focus on healing**  

  - Breathing room to manage this illness without constantly fearing the next bill  

  - The ability to follow through with treatment plans without choosing between health and survival

Your support will help me stay afloat while I continue to fight for my health.

What Your Help Means

When you give, you’re not just sending money — you are giving me:

- **Time to heal** without the paralyzing fear of how I’ll pay for it  

- **Access to ongoing medical care** that I genuinely need to manage this disease  

- **A chance to rebuild** some of what I’ve lost to this illness

Even a small gift makes a real difference:

- It might cover a copay for a crucial appointment  

- It might help pay for a month’s medication  

- It might keep my lights on or help with rent during a flare when I can’t work

Every contribution tells me: *“You’re not fighting this alone.”*

An Invitation Into My Story

I know many people look at me and don’t see “sick.” This disease is often invisible on the outside, but it has reshaped nearly every part of my life.

By donating, sharing my campaign, or simply reading this and holding space for my story, you are a part of my support system.

If you’re able to give, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  

If you’re not in a position to donate, sharing this with others or keeping me in your thoughts truly helps too.

Thank you for taking the time to understand what I’m going through and for considering supporting my fight against Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn’s