Hey everyone, I just wanted to make this post because as I’ve been finishing up my sophomore year of college, I’ve been reflecting on the last 10 or so years of my life. I would like to talk about my story in the hopes of it maybe making someone, who is in the position I was not long ago, feel more hopeful. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was in the fourth grade. Before this I had alot of friends, I played baseball, and was the class clown. I missed a substantial amount of school due to my illness. For a while I was just in a lot of pain with no effective treatments and I was severely underweight. However I finally started taking Remicade which stopped the inflammation and the change was night and day. Along with feeling better came being able to eat. I had a lot of catching up to do, and I ended up over-catching up and was overweight going into middle school, which was not a good experience for me. This, along with feeling like a spectacle every time I walked into class after being out for a week or two, made going to school an excruciating event.
A couple years after my diagnosis I had surgery to remove an obstructed part of my small intestine. I remembered being most upset about missing out on my best friends birthday party due to being in the hospital. Middle school was not fun, I constantly was missing school because of not feeling well. I was given a homebound teacher each year, and every year that I missed made it feel like the prospect of making new friends was more and more unattainable. I ended up missing a substantial amount of high-school as well. When COVID hit in my senior year of high-school it actually had some positive effects for me. Due to classes being virtual I was able to participate in a full year of school, the first time in a very long time. Luckily I was able to get into college-the possibility of which was in question seeing how much school I missed. I was very afraid of the idea of having to make new friends in college, due to me being involuntarily separated from my friends early on in school.
The point I'm trying to make is no matter how hopeless the future looks, it will get better. I have made amazing friends my first two years in school, and have gotten to participate in numerous opportunities. My illness seems to be under control and I can say I’m in remission. I do not know how long It will be until another flare up, or if there will ever be another one, but the best advice I can give it just to take it day by day. Appreciate every day that your illness doesn’t affect you, and never let the fear of feeling bad stop you from taking advantage of opportunities. Numerous times I let the fear of feeling bad stop me from truly enjoying experiences. I also never thought that life could get this good, but it can. So, if you’re struggling, just keep on keeping and I promise it will get better.
I'd love to hear other peoples successes and celebrations!
A couple years after my diagnosis I had surgery to remove an obstructed part of my small intestine. I remembered being most upset about missing out on my best friends birthday party due to being in the hospital. Middle school was not fun, I constantly was missing school because of not feeling well. I was given a homebound teacher each year, and every year that I missed made it feel like the prospect of making new friends was more and more unattainable. I ended up missing a substantial amount of high-school as well. When COVID hit in my senior year of high-school it actually had some positive effects for me. Due to classes being virtual I was able to participate in a full year of school, the first time in a very long time. Luckily I was able to get into college-the possibility of which was in question seeing how much school I missed. I was very afraid of the idea of having to make new friends in college, due to me being involuntarily separated from my friends early on in school.
The point I'm trying to make is no matter how hopeless the future looks, it will get better. I have made amazing friends my first two years in school, and have gotten to participate in numerous opportunities. My illness seems to be under control and I can say I’m in remission. I do not know how long It will be until another flare up, or if there will ever be another one, but the best advice I can give it just to take it day by day. Appreciate every day that your illness doesn’t affect you, and never let the fear of feeling bad stop you from taking advantage of opportunities. Numerous times I let the fear of feeling bad stop me from truly enjoying experiences. I also never thought that life could get this good, but it can. So, if you’re struggling, just keep on keeping and I promise it will get better.
I'd love to hear other peoples successes and celebrations!