An Update + Feel Better Friday

Last time I blogged, I was preparing to have surgery to remove a hernia that had developed around my ostomy site. As it turns out, it wasn’t a hernia but a large abscess. In any case, the operation was successful and, even though I developed a fistula a few weeks later that resulted in a couple of semi-traumatic visits to the emergency room and a very unwelcome return to an ostomy bag for a few days, my wound is slowly but surely healing.

My GI doc is worried that my Crohn’s is returning and is now setting its sights on my small intestine, so I am now taking Humira once a week instead of biweekly, and I’m on an increased dose of Imuran as well. I seem to be feeling fine, though, so hopefully the meds are finally working their magic!

Unfortunately, the operation put me in a sort of rut. I had been in the midst of applying for jobs, but that got put on the backburner while I concentrated on my health and recovery. Now that I’m feeling better, I’m back on the work grind and am trying to get back into my normal routine.

As I try to stay positive, focused, and upbeat, I’ve decided to start a little feature on the blog called Feel Better Friday to highlight some of the things that have been making me feel good lately. It’s always nice to find things that distract you when you’re feeling sick or just sad, so if you need a little joy in your life, check these things out!

• HAIM

Credit: thewildhoneypie.com

I’m loving this trio of sisters and their infectious grooves and beautiful harmonies. Definitely check out the video for “The Wire,” the wonderfully addicting single off their soon-to-be-released debut album.

• Hazelnut coffee

Credit: samsclub.com

I’m a coffee fiend, and I’ve always been very traditional in my tastes: medium-roast, black, no frills or cutesy stuff. But then I tried Dunkin Donuts Hazelnut coffee and I have changed my religion- this stuff is the jam! I drink it every morning with a small splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and it is the perfect start to the day.

• Timehop

Credit: timehop.com

This “time travel” app is a must-have for all you iPhone users. It pulls from all your photos, tweets, Instagrams, Facebook posts, etc., to remind you what you did on this day in years past. So fun!

• Long walks

I’ve been starting out my mornings by going on a long, fast-paced walk with my mom around our neighborhood, and it’s been a relaxing yet energizing start to each day. Walking first thing in the early A.M. is a perfect way to beat the summer heat and get in some quality time with a walking partner.

• “Orange is the New Black”

Credit: musedmagonline.com

Seriously, if you haven’t watched this show yet, I command you to drop everything and start now. It’s that good. I never fully grasped the whole “Netflix binge” concept until I watched the first season, and now I’m chomping at the bit waiting for season two.

• S’mores

Next to ice cream, this has got to be the best summertime dessert, and I’ve been absolutely loving it lately…even if I have to roast the marshmallows over my stovetop (I swear it’s not as pathetic as it sounds).

Your turn! What’s been making you feel better lately? Drop me a comment and let me know!

I’m Back! (And Getting Surgery Today)

Good morning, friends! Long time, no talk…which is completely and utterly my fault. I’m ashamed to say my last post was in FEBRURARY- yikes! Since then, tons of things have happened to me, including my college graduation (!) Unfortunately, this means the whole concept of this blog–navigating campus life with Crohn’s–may sort of be shot to hell. BUT, I am planning on refocusing this site to chronicle my journey into post-grad, young adult life, and I hope you will join me for the ride!

To entice you to do so, I happen to be returning to the blogosphere with a bit of drama up my sleeve: I am actually typing up this post from my hospital bed, where I am waiting to get surgery later today. What can I say, I just know how to come back with a bang!

Before I give you the lowdown on my intestinal woes, can we first hit pause and admire the lovely view from my hospital room window?

Cleveland, you’re looking absolutely smashing from up here!

Now on to the juicy stuff:

A few weeks ago, I noticed some mild discomfort around the scar where my ostomy used to be. It came and went every few days and was more of an itchy annoyance, so I really didn’t think about it too much. After all, this was at the tail end of my last ever semester of college and I was only focused on one thing: getting that diploma!

OH SWEET FREEDOM!

However, the discomfort got increasingly worse until it eventually morphed into a stinging pain. Once I had to resort to numbing the area with ice packs, I knew it was time to visit my surgeon. He told me I have a hernia (which is apparently a common problem for people who have/had ostomies), but the bigger and more dangerous problem is actually with my small intestine. A CT scan confirmed that the tissue between my two scars (ostomy scar and colectomy scar) is very weak, and my small intestine is getting stuck in a hole that has formed there. The scan did not determine whether or not this is being caused by a return of my Crohn’s, but they should be able to tell that during today’s surgery.

As I mentioned, my surgeon said hernias are quite common for ostomy patients. In case you want to see what a hernia looks like so you can recognize it for future reference, I snapped these incredibly attractive pictures last night:

Now I know everyone has a bit of tummy fat, myself included, but that protruding bulge is definitely a new development for me!

Pretty gross, huh?

As you can see from the pictures, the scar where my ostomy used to be is very red–my surgeon actually called it “angry-looking”–so I would definitely keep an eye out for that kind of irritation if you’re concerned about a hernia.

Even though my surgery is today, I was actually admitted a day early because, after meeting with my surgeon yesterday morning, he was worried about how much pain I was having and how irritated the area looked, so he wanted me to get another CT scan and be monitored overnight (and thank God for that, because I am loving this oxycodone. Just sayin’!). I don’t know what the recovery time will be like, but I will definitely check in post-op and report what happens.

Until then, thank you for bearing with me and continuing to read College Crohnie, and I hope you’re all having a happy and healthy week!

Running (Literally) Away From Crohn’s

A few weeks ago, I was telling one of my friends that I ran a half marathon in October, and she asked me why I like to run. I thought it over for a few minutes and realized the reason is because of Crohn’s. This disease makes me feel horrible about myself sometimes, but when I run, it has nothing on me.

….I am so embarrassing

I used to hate running. I ran track in grade school but pretty much gave up all physical activity until I was a sophomore in college. The reason I started exercising again was because of my colectomy, which I had the summer before my sophomore year. After that surgery, when I went through such pain and fear and uncertainty, I decided I wouldn’t take my health for granted anymore. So as soon as I healed up, I started working out at my school’s rec center. It was tough at first; I couldn’t run longer than a quarter of a mile and I wasn’t strong enough to lift heavy weights. It was discouraging at first but over time, I got better, faster and stronger (just like Kanye).

I was set back by a couple more surgeries over the next year, and felt like I was starting back at square one after each operation. But after my ileostomy reversal in March, I realized that, for the first time in two years, there were no more surgeries in my immediate future. I decided to celebrate by setting a goal for myself, so I signed up for a half marathon with my sister. Over the next few months, I built up from one mile to 10 (that was the longest distance I ran before the half—the adrenaline of race day really pulls you through those last 3 miles!)

It also helps if you have pretty running shoes.

I remember during that 10-mile run, my legs started aching and I was desperately searching my mind for motivation. The image that immediately popped into my head was me walking down the hospital hallway a few days after my colectomy. I felt so weak, grabbing onto the wall and to my IV pole, hunched over and barely able to make it 10 feet. To think that now I was on my tenth mile of a nonstop run was so motivating for me and was enough to make me push through that last mile. Even better was the feeling a week later when I crossed the finish line at the half marathon. I have never felt prouder of myself, knowing I had come so far.

SUCCESS!

I can’t stress enough the difference exercise has made in my life. I work out regularly—usually six days a week—because I genuinely enjoy it. It makes me feel strong and healthy, which are two things people with Crohn’s disease definitely shouldn’t take for granted. And—bonus!— I truly believe exercise helps keep my disease at bay because it makes me stress less, eat and sleep better and just keep me in tip-top shape overall. What’s not to love about that?! Every college I’ve been to has a rec center that’s free for students to use, and if you haven’t taken advantage of that yet, I highly, highly encourage you to do so.

I wrote a magazine article a couple months ago about how to run a half marathon with Crohn’s disease, and I’m hoping to share it all with you soon so you can hopefully feel inspired enough to try one yourself!

Until then, I hope everyone has a great weekend, and make sure you check back next week for my post about love and relationships, just in Valentine’s Day<3

See you then!

Finding The Right Doctor For You

In my last post, I wrote that you should feel comfortable talking to your doctor about drinking alcohol, even if you’re underage. Writing that made me think about the importance of having a gastroenterologist who you trust completely.

In the 11 years I’ve had Crohn’s, I’ve had four different GI docs, and I’ve been lucky enough to have a strong relationship with just about each of them. There was one, however, who I just didn’t feel right about. This doctor was not as warm and friendly as the others, and she often didn’t take the time to explain things to me, such as why I was starting a new medication or what a procedure would do for me. Although I was young at the time- probably in my early teens- I wanted to be spoken to like an adult because, after all, Crohn’s did make me a more mature person, and I wanted to be treated as such.

Great docs! Also, please excuse the hair that hadn’t been washed in a week.

Because I always left those appointments feeling irritated and bad about myself, I eventually decided to make a change. I didn’t trust that doctor enough to be completely honest with her, which is essential when you’re literally trusting another person with your life. After talking it over with my mom (who, as it turns out, had the same reservations I did), I switched doctors and found someone who I felt much more comfortable with.

I think it’s important for Crohn’s patients to remember that you have complete control over your own care. If you don’t like something, or someone, you can make a change. This is something that often goes over younger patients’ heads because it often feels like our choices are being made FOR us instead of BY us. When I was 11-years-old and newly diagnosed, I actually preferred it that way because I was new to the world of gastroenterologists and colonoscopies and steroids. But as I became more accustomed to all those things, I started to take more control over my care, including making the decision about who I wanted to take care of me.

Ohhh yeah, you better believe I would trust them. Credit: SheKnows.com

Bottom line is, your doctor should be like a guardian for you who will make the best possible decisions on your behalf, and that person is not always easy to find. That’s why it’s so important to evaluate the care you’re being given and make sure you trust your doctor enough to feel comfortable asking them anything. Remember you’re in control!

And just as an end note, a number of years after I stopped seeing the aforementioned unfriendly doctor, I crossed paths with her after my colectomy. She was one of the doctors assigned to my case and, though I was initially less than thrilled to see her again, we ended up seeing eye-to-eye on everything and I began to like her a lot more. All’s well that ends well. 🙂

How To Safely Drink Alcohol With Crohn’s Disease

First, let me start this post off by saying I’m not endorsing underage drinking. I am, however, realistically acknowledging that alcohol is to college as marijuana is to Willie Nelson concerts: it’s always around and, at many schools, is also a big part of the culture.

For example, I go to a large public university where football Saturdays are typically spent waking up at 7 a.m. to start drinking, going to the game or watching it at a bar, then drinking late into the night. Is it fun? Yeah, usually. But is it safe? Probably not.

It’s nice actually remembering the game, so pregame easily.

I happen to enjoy alcohol, but I’ve learned how to drink responsibly, which is something you’ll have to do too if you want to keep your disease under control at college. It’s a balancing act and it’s one that takes time to master when you’re constantly surrounded by the binge drinking, bar specials and 21st birthday parties that pop up around campus every weekend.

That’s why I’m sharing some tips and tricks for how you can drink safely with Crohn’s:

• First and foremost, make sure it’s safe to drink alcohol with the medications you’re taking. If you’re taking Flagyl , for example, alcohol will make you extremely ill because the two don’t mix well. Even if you’re underage, you should feel comfortable talking to your doctor about drinking, and he or she can tell you if it’s safe for you or not.
• Experiment, within reason. Unfortunately, there’s no definitive list of what drinks you can and can’t have with Crohn’s. Beer has never really agreed with me, but wine and vodka are fine. Some people are the exact opposite, while others can’t even tolerate alcohol at all. Everyone is different, so trial and error is really the only way to find out what works for you. Just do it in a smart way by not trying too many things at once.
  

  Hmmm…does this drink agree with me?

• Which brings us to this next point: try to stick with one kind of drink the whole night. Don’t go for a smorgasbord of alcohol (i.e., first a beer, then a shot of tequila, then a glass of wine, then a long island iced tea…) because the chances of you getting sick will be much higher.
• You don’t have to keep up with everyone else. Alcohol should be enjoyed in moderation, not abused in excess, so be careful around beer pong and other drinking games. If you’re at a bar and want to create the illusion you’re “keeping up,” try this: order a non-alcoholic drink that looks like a mixed drink (for example, a coke and lime to look like rum & coke, or anything with sprite or club soda.) It’s a nifty party trick for when you don’t want to drink but don’t want anyone to bug you about it.
  

  Cocktail or mocktail? You’ll never know…

• If you’re flaring, fuhgeddaboudit. Alcohol does irritate the GI tract, so drinking while flaring is way too risky.
• Let’s say you choose to ignore all these tips, get really drunk, and wake up with a monster hangover tomorrow morning. It’s OK, you’re only human, so here’s one last tip for the dreaded morning after: rehydrate and renourish! Pedialyte is surprisingly good for this. Also try Vitamin Water, Gatorade, or anything with electrolytes.

I just want to finish this post by saying I understand that, especially if you’re diagnosed with Crohn’s at a younger age, it can make you feel like an outcast among your friends because sometimes you can’t do all the same things they do. But having Crohn’s doesn’t mean you will be robbed of having fun. And you don’t need to drink like a fish to have a good time, so not being able to play beer pong doesn’t mean college is going to suck for you. There are much more important things than that, like staying out of the hospital and being healthy. Cheers to that!

Here’s to drinking safely!

Start Of The Semester Tips

As the spring semester begins, everyone on campus seems to be running around with their heads cut off–“I can’t find the math building!” “I need to meet with my advisor so I can drop this class!” “I have to work out so I can keep my new year’s resolution!” “I should join another club and get more involved!”–I’ve been overhearing these kinds of comments all week (classes started on Monday at my school) and I can’t help but think all this stress is taking a major toll on people.

For those of us with Crohn’s and IBD, we get the added stress of worrying about how our disease will affect our performance at school. That’s why there are some key things to keep in mind as we begin new classes. Here are some of my tips for starting the semester on a smart and healthy foot:

Avoid the hunger games.

• Look at your class schedule and identify times when you can take a break and eat a snack. I know it sounds strange, but this is something I’ve learned over the years: sometimes when you’re planning your schedule, you don’t realize that your classes are back-to-back-to-back from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., leaving you no time to refuel yourself in the middle of a hectic day. If this is the case for you, think about when you’re able to eat between your classes, so you can avoid those hunger pangs, and then stock up on foods that are easily portable, like granola bars or fruit.
  

  Survival section of the backpack

Pack like a Scout.

• If you take medications during the daytime, remember to pack those with you as well. It’s always good to have a few spare pills in your backpack anyway. If you have an ostomy, make sure you have extra bags/bases/scissors, etc.

Know the restroom routes.

• The first time you go to your classroom building, identify where the restrooms are, and which are closest to your room. Ideally, you should do this before the first day of classes so you’re prepared in advance.

Credit: blog.lib.umn.edu

Talk to your teachers.

• A couple weeks ago, I wrote about how to talk to your roommate. Talking to your teacher is similar: tell them you have Crohn’s and explain what it is in a nutshell if they don’t already know. Then tell them how it might affect you in class. For example, I always tell my teachers that I might need to leave in the middle of class to use the restroom. Most teachers really don’t care, but it’s better to let them know in advance so they know you have a legitimate reason for constantly leaving the room.

Make it official.

• Register with your school’s Office of Disabilities. At my school, I have an assigned counselor who is able to help me if I need an excused absence because of a medical emergency or flare-up. Having someone who can act as a liaison between you and your teachers will take a lot of stress off your shoulders. Honestly, I rarely need my counselor’s services, but it eases my mind knowing she’s there if I need her. (BONUS: at my school, registering with the disabilities office gets you priority scheduling).
  

  You’ll even get a nifty handbook!

Now let me ask you: what do you do to make the start of the semester as smooth and stress-free as possible? Do you have any of your own tips you would add to this list? Let me know!

And to all my fellow College Crohnies: I hope you have a great, homework-free first week of classes!

Resolving To Keep Up With Medications

After I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2002, I went through a period of denial. I was 11 years old and I felt isolated from my carefree friends and angry that I was getting cheated out of a normal childhood. During that time, one of the things I struggled with the most was keeping up with my medications. I found myself suddenly having to take a dozen pills a day, most of which tasted funny and gave me weird side effects (moon face from steroids+awkward preteen years=disastrous school pictures). So after a while, I stopped taking them. I would throw pills in the garbage or hide them underneath a chair cushion in my room, lying to my mom whenever she asked me if I’d taken them. This went on for a long time and although I felt so guilty, I justified it by being able to feel normal.

My mom getting revenge on me years later.

When I think back on that time, it almost makes me sick to my stomach how irresponsible and selfish I was being. I was wasting money, putting my health at risk and damaging my relationship with my mom. After I finally matured and realized what I was doing, I resolved to be more diligent about my medications and start taking care of myself. I’m proud to say this is one resolution I’ve been able to keep over the years.

Here are some of my favorite tips for keeping on track with medications:

• Keep organized. This is key to keeping up your routine, especially if you’re taking a lot of pills. Buy a pill box that has a compartment for each day of the week. These are made in all shapes and sizes and can be found at any drugstore.
• Set reminders. If there’s a certain time of day you have to take a medication, set an alarm clock on your phone with a customized tune. Also set reminders for when you need to refill your prescriptions by marking the date on a calendar.
• Carry extra pills with you. I always have extra pills in my purse, just in case I spontaneously decide to spend the night at a friend’s house or I’m away from my house all day.
• Be honest with your doctor. Your doctor is your friend and your ally. You should be able to trust him/her, and they should be able to trust you in return. If you’re not keeping up with your medications, they need to know.
  

  Ready to start Humira WOOO

I’m starting back on Humira soon, and although I don’t like injecting myself, all I have to do is remind myself that the pain is worth it. I think back to when I refused to take my pills, and I feel even more determined to leave those days in the dust and start anew. Any day of the year can be used to improve your life, but the start of the new year is always the best. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to change about yourself, start now, especially if it means bettering your health.

Happy New Year to all!

My Decision To Start A Gluten-Free Diet

In October, I had a mild flare-up, which was my first one since getting ostomy reversal surgery in March (you can read more about that on the “My Story” page above). I had thought that, after getting rid of my ileostomy, I would have more than six months of remission; at least, that’s what one of my doctors had predicted. But getting sick so soon after the surgery made me so nervous that I decided to do everything I possibly could to combat my symptoms and make sure the disease that was left didn’t get too out of control.

Rockin’ the hospital gown, like usual

The night before I was discharged from the hospital, I was looking on the Internet at some new research about Crohn’s and was surprised to read that some patients had seen improved symptoms when going gluten-free. Admittedly, the most I knew about a gluten-free diet was that Miley Cyrus does it because of a gluten allergy, but after learning more about it, I decided to try the diet and see if I noticed any differences.

The next day, my mom and I went to Whole Foods and spent some time browsing the aisles and examining all the gluten-free options, of which there were so many. I stocked up on gluten-free oats, granola bars, protein powder, cookies and more, and proceeded with my new diet.

Some of my fave GF options

It’s now been two months since I’ve adopted a gluten-free diet and, while I haven’t been entirely perfect about it (couldn’t resist the stuffing on Thanksgiving!), I’m happy to say that yes, the diet seems to work for me. I have fewer and less severe stomach aches and I just feel healthier and cleaner overall.

The hardest part for me, though, has been when I come home, especially during this holiday season. I hate to feel like an inconvenience to anyone, so it’s difficult not to order a burger when my family goes out to dinner (and yes, I know you can order the burger without the bun, but that just feels sacrilegious to me!). And when we cook dinner at home, I hate that my family tries to be accommodating when I know all they really want are some crescent rolls.

Gotta have the bun with the burger

Thankfully, I’ve found that a lot of restaurants are actually very accommodating to a gluten-free diet. For example, I went to Bar Louie with my friends for dinner a few weeks ago and asked the waitress about gluten-free options. She brought me a laminated sheet listed with everything on the menu that was gluten-free, including substitutions you could make for certain items. It was so helpful and I didn’t feel like an inconvenience at all. Last week, my parents and I went to a pizza place that offers gluten-free crust, and a few nights ago, we even whipped up our own gluten-free pizza crust at home. Both were delicious!

Our pizza with a GF crust made from scratch

One of my favorite things to do now is to bake gluten-free treats for my roommates and watch their astonishment when I tell them there’s no flour in those cookies, or I used gluten-free flour for that pumpkin bread. Gluten-free foods, it turns out, can be just as delicious.

My roomies were blown away by these ooey gooey chocolate GF cookies

I’d love to hear from other Crohn’s or IBD patients who have tried a gluten-free diet. Did it work for you? What are some of your favorite gluten-free foods? I love Bob’s Red Mill rolled oats (I eat them every morning for breakfast) and Mi-Del gluten-free cookies (the ginger snaps are my favorite). Let me know if you have any more suggestions!

How To Combat Finals Week Stress

This is it, guys. For four months, we’ve been plugging away, filling our brains to the brim with information, some of which is actually useful and some of which isn’t, and hoping it stays put long enough for us to reel it in during this most dreaded of times: yep, it’s finals week.

The end of the semester is tough for everybody, but those of us trying to juggle school and a chronic illness are put at a special risk. For most Crohn’s patients, myself included, stress can easily trigger unwanted symptoms, which is why managing and reducing stress is crucial during times like these. But how are we supposed to do that with a never-ending to-do list and an apartment that keeps getting dirtier and dirtier because we don’t have time to clean? The key for me is time management. There are plenty of ways to help keep stress at bay, as long as you plan accordingly and avoid procrastination.

This, my friends, is what we call “the get shit done top bun.”

Here are a few tips for managing your stress–and your Crohn’s–during Finals Week:

• Exercise. Working out is the perfect study break because it rejuvenates your body and clears your mind. Again, this is where time management is key, but even if you can only manage a brisk walk around the block, it’s better than nothing and will definitely leave you feeling refreshed. If you’re too crunched for time, you can even bring some flash cards to the gym and study them while on the elliptical or stationary bike.
• Everything in moderation. It’s tempting to chug coffee and Red Bull to stay awake, but caffeine and sugary drinks should be enjoyed in moderation to avoid an upset stomach. Plus, coffee is a diarrhetic, so take it easy on the espresso. Try to drink one cup of water for every one cup of coffee.
• Get enough sleep. I know it’s easy to resist getting some shut-eye when you just want to go over those notes one last time, but I’ve found a little extra sleep does better for the memory than extra cramming. Power naps are also great if you feel your brain going into overload mode, even if it’s just a 20-minute snooze. Just make sure to set an alarm so you don’t doze off into the nighttime!
• Snack well. I’m a stress eater, so this is a tough one for me, too. But eating junk food to de-stress is a bad idea, especially when you’re trying to fight IBD. Instead, opt for healthy study snacks–my go-to’s are apples with peanut butter, smoothies, and yogurt with fruit and granola. Saving that trip to Cold Stone will feel so much more rewarding AFTER you finish your tests.
• Study at home. Everyone’s personal preferences are different, but I like to study at home so I can be closer to a bathroom. There’s nothing more annoying than studying in the library and having to use the bathroom, which means packing up your things because you don’t want to have your laptop stolen, then coming back to find your spot’s been taken, then finding a new seat, having to use the bathroom again, and repeating the process over and over again. That kind of situation is stressful enough, so I study in my apartment, at my kitchen table (NOT in bed because it’s way too easy to fall asleep), away from the TV and anything else that’s too distracting. Of course, I know it’s not an option for everyone to study at home, so if you do opt for the library or a coffee shop and want to avoid the above scenario, go with a friend so he/she can save your spot while you do your business, and make sure you know ahead of time where the bathrooms are located.

Remember, we’re almost at the finish line; finals will be over soon and then the holiday season will officially commence! I wish you all the best with your tests, projects and papers, but just in case you need some extra motivation, here’s a little something to get you pumped up:

Now go ace those finals!

There’s Awareness In The Air

For those of you who didn’t know, last week (Dec. 1-7) was Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week. All week long, I found myself thinking about and reflecting on my health more than I usually do. Part of that is because I started this blog, but part of that is because I’ve noticed what seems like an outpouring of support for the Crohn’s community. People have been talking about it in major media outlets, which is inspiring to someone like me who is just speaking up about it for the first time.

Here are some of the coolest things I’ve noticed during the past week:

• Last weekend, thousands of runners raised almost $4 million for CCFA by participating in the Rock & Roll Half Marathon in Las Vegas. I’m so in awe not only of that amount of money, but also by shirts like these:
  

  Credit: @CCFA

• CCFA launched an app called GI Buddy, which helps you track your disease. I just downloaded it a couple days ago and can’t wait to start using it! I’ll post a review of the app once I’ve been using it for a few weeks.
  

  Screenshot of the new app. Credit: Apple

• A ton of celebrities have been speaking up about living with Crohn’s: Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready wrote this beautiful post for the Huffington Post, actor Ken Baumann (“Secret Life of the American Teenager”) tweeted about it, and tonight, former NFL player Matt Light is going to be honored during halftime of the Patriots game for his battle with Crohn’s. You can read a great interview with him in Men’s Health here.
  

  Matt Light

In short, it’s been really cool to feel part of such a supportive community. But those feelings of inclusion, encouragement and optimism shouldn’t last for just one week. Crohn’s is, at least for now, a lifelong companion of ours, so we need to be raising awareness for it 365 days a year. Nevertheless, this week has made me feel great and I hope it was encouraging for you too!