Posted by Natalie Ward on September 18, 2017
Hi, my name is Natalie and I’m a high school sophomore from Columbia, MD. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 10 years old. I’m passionate about music – I play the trumpet in my school’s marching band, as well as the piano and ukulele.
One of my biggest struggles with Crohn's has been the physical toll the disease can take on me. It’s been really challenging for me to participate in any physical activity, such as running around or playing a sport. I get tired pretty easily and often cannot participate in the way I would like.
Even though I am in remission, I must always be aware of my boundaries and when I need to take a break. This allows me to still be active, but not let Crohn's take control.
I heard about the PAC while at Camp Oasis, and was immediately interested. I wanted to have the chance to work with others just like me, while helping and influencing others with the same diseases. My goal for participating in the PAC is to use Crohn's as an opportunity to help other patients and work to make things better for the IBD community. I'm grateful to be part of a group that offers an invaluable support system, and tremendous resources and opportunities.
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