Let’s welcome this week’s warrior, Tasha!
HEY EVERYONE!!
My name is La’Tasha but you can call me Tasha. I’m from Cleveland, Ohio.
I have Crohn’s Disease and a permanent ostomy. I was diagnosed in November of 2004. The journey to be diagnosed was long for me. The wait to be diagnosed almost killed me. Because I was 16 when I got sick doctors told my parents I was anorexic and I just needed to eat. It took about 2 months total. At diagnosis I was 86 lbs. I was knocking on death’s door. I received what I thought would be a temporary ostomy in October of 2017. I was about 4 months pregnant with my son. I had my colon removed in its entirety in October of 2018 making my ostomy permanent.
Life with a chronic illness is a never-ending journey. Like with anything else we have good moments and moments that have made me question life. As a mom with IBD it’s HARD. Being pregnant and having Crohn’s disease is hard. Throw in a major surgery and the depression that hit me was suffocating. I now have chronic pain so basic life tasks can be very hard. But I’ve learned to take life moment by moment.
For anyone battling with this disease I want you to know you are not alone. Be an advocate for yourself because no one knows you better than you. Having Crohn’s has taught me that no matter what the sun always comes back out. Even if I have to be my own sun. Things that bring me joy in this Crohn’s season are my family. I love to journal and listening to music is my happy place. I love doing my makeup because when you look better you feel better. Lastly, find your tribe. The people who will fight for you when you can’t fight for you.
Thank you so much for sharing your IBD journey with us Tasha! Be sure to give her a follow on IG @thecrohniemommy