I want to raise awareness about Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and funds for our local service. We are planning a race night in November but I have been thinking about alternative ideas.

My daughter Alice was diagnosed with Crohns in 2013. She had just started Warwick University. Typical symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhoea, stomach and then blood loss led to the diagnosis. By the end of summer, she had spent 3 weeks in hospital. Alice had unsuccessful surgery to drain a perennial abscess and the insertion of a seton (a looped stitch that goes from the abscess to the skin and stays in place to allow drainage). The wound had to be left open to heal (in between her buttocks) and Alice was left with an ileostomy.
Alice returned to university after the summer holidays despite advice from a surgeon to take a year out. She had a bag to cope with and still had a wound that at one point you coul fit your fist inside. Alice needed daily dressings and the wound eventually healed at Christmas. Alice was and is positive. She even set up a blog aimed at young people to support others in similar situations.
In the summer holidays of 2014, Alice was able to have her ileostomy reversed although the internal damage is still a problem.
Alice coped admirably and I'm not sure I would have had the strength that Alice demonstrated at that time. By no means is it comparible but I have decided to wear a colostomy bag for one week to just have a taste of what life is like living with a colostomy. During that week, I will fill it with water and change it as you would a stoma to experience life with a bag as realistically as possible.

The link to alices blog is www.youngandcrohned.blogspot.co.uk