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Join a Community of Warriors

Thriving through chronic illness, together.

ulcerative colitis

5 Years Since My Life & Body Changed Forever + Lessons Along The Way

INSTAGRAM WITH ME!

Why do people who live with (or have lived with) a

Why do people who live with (or have lived with) an #ostomybag have a special bond? 🤔

Living with an #ostomy is a different experience that can’t really be explained in words alone. It’s like either you know, or you don’t. People can empathize, but there’s nothing like first hand experience/s.

Living with #CrohnsDisease , I never thought I could meet people (especially so many) that just get it. That I don’t have to worry about over sharing or scaring away. People I can confide in without any judgement because they’ve been there. People that can guide me on which bags / appliances to use. Best brands. Go-tos. You name it.

When I was first diagnosed with #IBD over 10 years ago, an Ostomy was seen as something scary. Portrayed as a last resort. - Now, people still fear it for that very reason.

Having an Ostomy isn’t a “bad” thing. It shouldn’t been viewed as a last resort, but instead, a life saving decision! - For so many! I wish I’d had surgery sooner tbh.

Grateful for the community I’ve found and created living with this condition. Grateful for people that just get it. Grateful to be heard. Grateful to be seen and grateful for progress. 💪 #CrohnsandColitis

Hey 👋🏽 I’m Shawn. I live with an #autoimmu

Hey 👋🏽 I’m Shawn. I live with an #autoimmune disease called Crohn’s Disease. I take a really expensive medication that suppresses my immune system and I was afraid to get the #COVID19Vaccine 😦

🦠 I’m not a doctor or expert. I don’t know much about this virus, but I knew there was once a time - not too long ago - when we were literally at ground 0. Although it seems like this quarantine life has been a reality for too long, putting it into perspective, it hasn’t been THAT long.

🦠 Mentally I couldn’t process how a virus we once knew nothing about, suddenly has a vaccine not even two full years later 🤯. — But again, I’m not the expert.

🦠 I know it’s hard to believe in something you don’t understand. I was honestly in this same place when a doctor told me he could improve my condition with surgery. — I couldn’t picture a life without the condition I’d come to know. - But I took a leap of faith.

🦠 I trusted science and I trusted my God. Almost 6 years post surgery and I’m still amazed by the life I lead today.

Moral: We don’t have all of the answers. No one does. That’s okay. — But we can take a leap of faith for the greater good. ANDDDD .. science is kinda lit 🔥.

🦠 Minorities are being disproportionately affected by COVID-19. — Trust me, as a black woman, I fully understand the hesitation in getting the vaccine. But we deserve it as much as anyone else.

🤷🏽‍♀️ I could go on and on, but my point is: get the damn vaccine. Call, text, email. Do what you have to do. It’s worth it.

💉Get over the conspiracy theories and let’s move past this so I can love my grandparents freely and lay butt naked in Aruba this summer 🌞 | #StopTheSpread

❗️💉Follow my journey getting the vaccine on the @savvy_coop stories this Thursday, April 1st!

I know, as patients, we like to preach about how d

I know, as patients, we like to preach about how disability does not equate to inability. — But sometimes it does. Being realistic, there are days when my body simply does not work the same. I’m not capable of doing all of the things I could pre-flare vs during. That’s okay. This is a topic that came up on @savvy_coop socials today. One reason why I love working for Savvy is because we have the hard conversations. Life is not cookie-cutter perfect. If it were, I imagine there would be no such thing as illness in the first place 🤷🏽‍♀️. I like being apart of something that addresses these uncomfortable conversations surrounding not only disability, but diversity + inclusion, current events and REAL issues going on in the world. I like seeing people who look like me and my friends included in conversations. — Included in the staff! I’m not trying to sell you anything, I simply ask you to remember to support companies + missions that support YOU. 🤚 🎤

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