Hi, my name is Justin, and I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2021. I am on Remicade. I am currently a rising junior in high school, and my interests are in law.
I struggle with what I eat on a daily basis. My stomach does not handle particular foods (such as dairy products) well, so I must be cautious over what I eat.
All I can do at this point is eat a healthy and balanced diet. Additionally, I have begun exercising more often by playing tennis with my younger brother. While only I can help myself the most, my mother encourages a healthy and balanced diet, which has not only helped with my Crohn's disease, but my overall health. Throughout my journey, I have learned that it's too bad that I have Crohn's, but it's something I have to live with and deal with it the best I can. I realize there are far more people who have worse Crohn's disease conditions or health issues.
Being a new member of a community that focuses not only on the struggles of dealing with Crohn's disease but also on implementing change has enabled me to fit in quite nicely. The information, resources, and most importantly, personal experiences of others can help me with my own journey. As of now, I have recently joined in helping with the insurance toolkit and plan on becoming an active member.
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Get #InTheLOOP with more New PAC member stories on the ImproveCareNow blog
ImproveCareNow exists to transform the health, care and costs for all children and adolescents with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD). To do this ICN has created an inclusive, transparent and collaborative community where patients, families, clinicians, researchers, improvers, collaborators and friends are all empowered to learn, share and continuously improve, bringing about more reliable, proactive IBD care and healthier children and youth. We welcome your involvement:
💙 young patients (14+) with IBD can join the Patient Advisory Council - "Being part of the PAC helps me remember that I'm not alone in this journey." - Rhea
💚 caregivers of young people with IBD can join the Parent/Family Advisory Council - "I was astounded by the instant bond established with parents I had never met. Every conversation provided me with strength. It ignited another purpose in my life." - Maria
💙 make a tax-deductible donation to support ImproveCareNow - "As a 501c3 non-profit, ImproveCareNow is proud to use every dollar donated to advance our mission of improving the health and care of children and adolescents with IBD." - Kristin Howe, Executive Director
💚 stay #InTheLOOP with IBD stories on the ICN blog - "Sharing stories and experiences is affirming and validating. Our stories reach others and they help, which is the most wonderful part of being involved with ImproveCareNow." - Quint
💙 download & use free, co-produced IBD resources - "Physical resources provide patients with actions that we can take toward bettering our quality of life, as well as our current and future care." - Quint
💚 join our CIRCLE -"Resources we found in CIRCLE eNews do not just focus on physical health, but also on critical areas like social-emotional needs, nutrition, back-to-school planning and mindfulness. These are valuable tools for my son to remain healthy." - Lisa
