As a sufferer of Crohn’s disease it is hugely important to me to help raise awareness of this invisible illness. 

After 7 or more years of suffering without a diagnosis, being made to think it was all in my head, it was a relief to finally be officially diagnosed, (not that it’s a diagnosis I particularly wanted!!) and to be able to start treatment. After trying several medications I finally seemed to find some that helped me to feel more human again, until May 2018 when I ended up being admitted into hospital for 9 days and then in the October having major surgery,  after realising I wasn’t reacting to the medication and was just getting worse as my small bowel was extremely inflamed and ulcerated and I had developed an abscess in the same area causing me a lot of pain. The surgery resulted in me having 10cm of my small bowel removed, my appendix and the abscess. 

Although I am on medication these can have many horrible side effects, including suppression of the immune system meaning I am a greater risk of becoming ill. This also means I am at a greater risk of cancer, in fact the injections I have to give myself gives me a 1 in 10 chance of developing  skin cancer. 

Being put on Steroids to try and control extreme flares was awful as they are by far the worst medication I’ve ever been on due to the side effects; weight gain, moon face, sweating, acne, insomnia, shaking, mood swings and many more. Even the Dr called them devil pills!! 

I am happy to say that I am currently in remission, however I still struggle daily with symptoms as they never go away and I could drop into a flare at any time.

Please, please, please can I ask for anyone to donate whatever they can to help raise funds for this amazing charity in the hope that one day they find a cure. 

Thank you :)