I has been quite exciting for me! Senate passed Resolution 199, making December 1-7 Crohn's and Colitis Awareness week! This is big news. Really, BIG! The fact that we are making it to the Senate and White House to help out the 1.4 million people suffering from this "embarrassing" ailment feel more comfortable speaking out and seeking treatment is definitely something to shout from the rooftops. We are hoping that this will accelerate proper diagnosis and treatment to those who have been misdiagnosed for years or have been ignoring their symptoms!
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| I proudly flashed this all over Facebook. |
While I know I raise Awareness everyday and am not embarrassed to talk to others about my issues, other people may not feel the same way. I've been lucky enough to have an amazing support group throughout the years. My family, friends, and friends I've made through CCFA support groups have all been there with me through the highs and lows of my disease. In my family, we can talk about anything at the dinner table, including, but not limited to, bowels. Why be embarrassed? Didn't we all read the book, "Everyone Poops?"
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| We all do it. Don't try to say you don't! |
Facebook groups were blowing up their Awareness for IBD. And I was loving every second of it!
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| I felt that way once.... but now, I know I can fight it! |
Even magazines like Cosmo was trying to raise awareness.
Although, they did not hit the mark when it comes to ostomies. This story actually caused me to write an email to Cosmo telling them I am ashamed of the article and the woman trying to tell her story did not sound educated. (She has her Psy.D and is a therapist.) She made it seem like having an ostomy was the worst thing to happen to her in her entire life. While I may have felt that way at one point too, it saved my life and I am eternally grateful for it.
Read it here.
Yes, not everyone will love their ostomy. I know I hate mine. But I don't have the option to reverse mine. She describes her ostomy as a "poopbag" and after reversal "when I woke up from the last surgery and wasn't attached to the bag, it was the best feeling in the world."
Everyone who has to deal with issues like this deserves their own opinion and the right to share their story. However, as a therapist, you would think she would want to help remove the stigma ostomies have attached to them, as she had to live with one for awhile. She cheapened and degraded the ostomy community. For many, ostomies are as important to saving lives as pacemakers, blood transfusions and organ transplants. If everyone were to talk about their ostomy experience in such negative light, I'm fearful many people out there would choose to die rather than deal with it. The object of raising awareness is not to make people fearful, but to voice the support there is out there. I'm sorry Cosmo, but that story received a big thumbs down from the social network of supporters out there.
In brighter light, I follow this motivational blogger who lives in NYC. Her name is Ali and she also has Crohn's disease. Ali loves to run and is always trying to raise awareness of IBD. In fact, she has sold tshirts to help do so (and run in races for Team Challenge, part of CCFA's half marathon training program). While her shirts have been sold out for awhile now, they are available again! I am excited to say I am going to buy one. Check them out and place an order yourself if you are interested!
I am hoping to one day be a part of Team Challenge. Part of that is raising money to help find a cure. Maybe I can come up with some awesome tshirt design and have you all support me and raise awareness too. Stay tuned!
Please educate people on IBD. Let's not have Awareness just be one week long, but all year long!
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