I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 16 years ago this month.
I was 30 years old, the mother of a three-year-old, and suddenly my life was not turning out the way I’d hoped at all. Learning to be a parent along with learning how to live with a chronic illness while working at a fast-paced, full-time job was a huge struggle.
What is Ulcerative Colitis?
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects the lining of the large intestine. It’s an autoimmune disease that causes a range of symptoms, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and weight loss. IBD can lead to serious complications, such as bowel obstruction, fistulas, and cancer. The pain, discomfort, and uncertainty that come with this condition can be overwhelming.
There is no cure for ulcerative colitis, but there are treatments that can help to manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. In 2022, I was fortunate enough to try a novel combination of treatments that works well for me, with almost no side effects.
Most people with IBD are not so fortunate and spend years trying to find effective treatments, treading a narrow path between reducing inflammation and dangerous side-effects.
Crohn’s Colitis Canada
I first learned about Crohn's Colitis Canada via social media. They provide information and support to patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. Their webinars have been invaluable to me in coming to terms with this disease. They are friendly, approachable, helpful and down-to-earth.
But of course, they also fund research.
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is one of the world’s largest non-governmental funders of IBD research. They invest in the most promising research projects on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, ensuring that every donor dollar reaches as far as possible by leveraging funding opportunities with bodies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. They also help allocate a greater pool of funds towards initiatives targeting the prevention and cures of IBD and improving the quality of life for those who live with them.
Their research funding powers the discovery process that is driving new treatments and cures, finding causes and triggers, helping manage symptoms, getting the best care, educating professionals, discovering novel treatments, and supporting early career IBD researchers.
In 2021, they invested $4.7 million in research projects and initiatives supported by major hospitals and universities.
How You Can Help
Please consider making a donation to Crohn's Colitis Canada. Your contribution will help fund research that could one day lead to a cure for IBD, and it will provide much-needed support to those of us living with this chronic illness.
You can donate via Tiltify at https://tiltify.com/@sullivantwins/mrgleh
Every single dollar counts. Thank you for your support!
