Warrior Wednesday Feature: Krista

My name is Krista. I’m from a small fishing village in southwestern Nova Scotia. I moved to Calgary Alberta in 2013 to pursue my education degree and for a change of scenery. 

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was 9 years old after months of loss of appetite, the inability to gain weight, and debilitating fatigue, abdominal pain and diarrhea. At first, my family doctor told me that my symptoms were from having low iron levels but my mom and grandma knew something wasn’t quite right. We sought a second opinion at the closest children’s hospital 3 hours away from my hometown, where they were pretty much able to diagnose me with IBD on the spot. 

Since I was diagnosed at such a young age, I honestly don’t really remember what it’s like not to live with a chronic illness. It’s kinda just become my normal- all the extra doctors appointments and procedures, dealing with different medical companies and insurances, having treatments and taking medication either orally or giving myself injections. But I can say being diagnosed as a child made me have to grow up fast and take on responsibilities much earlier on than the norm, which always makes me a little sad. 

The things that I deal with on a daily basis because of my IBD/ostomy are being mindful about what I eat, making sure I chew my food really well to avoid a blockage, drinking enough liquids to prevent severe dehydration, bringing extra ostomy supplies with me whenever I leave the house incase I get a leak, and giving myself time to go to the bathroom every 3-4 hours to empty my bag. Every 3 days, I change my ostomy appliance before leaving for work in the morning so allowing myself to have enough time to do that is necessary. Once a month, I need to schedule my infusions, medication deliveries, and ordering medical supplies. 

This journey has taught me that I’m a lot stronger and resilient than I give myself credit for. I can do hard things but that doesn’t always mean it’s easy. I have learned that being sad and disappointed on my hard days are just as important in being positive when days are easier. I take advantage of the good days as they come and I lean on my support system when I’m facing harder days and/or seasons. My biggest advice for someone being newly diagnosed with IBD or any chronic illness is to find community. Finding people that go through what you go through and who understand your struggle makes you feel like you’re not alone dealing with this new reality. It’s helped me immensely in my healing journey. 

Having a chronic illness and an ostomy doesn’t mean you can’t live a successful life. I’m a kindergarten teacher, a wife and a soon to be mama, I get to go adventuring in the mountains, beaches, and go hiking. Things might take more planning but I still get to enjoy the things I love to do most in life despite my illness.