Posted by Adrielle Hasara on June 29, 2021
Hello, my name is Adrielle and I am a 17-year-old rising senior in high school. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 16 years old. Something that most people do not know about me is that I have a love for fashion. I channel this love by designing and creating my own clothes with my sewing machine.
I have struggled with accepting I have a chronic disease. After being diagnosed, I had to pay much closer attention to my overall health than I was ever used to. For a while I was fixated on the idea that if I ignored my symptoms my life would return to the way it was before. This process caused me to feel angry and even isolated from those around me because I was constantly fighting with myself.
To help understand that I was not alone in my battle, I decided to join an IBD teen support group. Through this, I learned how many different people with IBD navigate their lives in a "normal" manner. I also decided to open up to my friends from school, tell them about my disease and all of the challenges it brings. By doing so I was able to start accepting my illness and realize that I am not so different from everyone else.
I was drawn towards the PAC because almost immediately after reading the website, I felt very comfortable and safe. I read stories about people who had similar experiences to me which made me feel so much better and gave me confidence. I would love to be able to help anyone in the same way that the PAC has helped me.