Posted by ImproveCareNow™ on December 10, 2025
We are thankful for every story shared by our ICN community members! It is our hope that as more people stay #InTheLOOP with our posts, together we can:
đź’š continue to bring critical awareness to chronic illnesses (like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) that can be misunderstood because they are not always visible
đź’™ encourage people to connect with each other, to share information and support, so no one feels alone on their IBD journey
đź’š build passion and momentum for our shared work of improving health & care of young people living with IBD
đź’™ keep the lines of communication open so we can all feel empowered to keep #TalkingAboutIBD
We look forward to sharing even more stories and perspectives in 2026. If you would like to share your story with us, here is a form you can complete or you can always contact us via our website.
Here is a list of our ten, most-read stories of 2025!
Exploring a Mediterranean Diet for IBDÂ
“The Mediterranean Diet (MED) can be helpful for pediatric patients with IBD. It is a way of eating based on traditional cuisines from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The MED has health benefits and can be used for the entire family. In this post ICN Registered Dietitians share an overview of the Mediterranean Diet, list common MED foods and limitations, provide sample menus and a popular MED recipe, and address potential concerns about increasing dietary fiber.”
Lesley Stanford contributed this informational post as a member of the ICN Registered Dietitian group. It includes a recipe card for homemade granola.
A New Resource to Help Patients & Families Navigate Dietary Therapy Options for IBD
“Nutritional Therapy for IBD - an ICN partner organization dedicated to advancing evidence-based nutrition as part of IBD treatment plans to enhance the well-being and health outcomes of all children and adults with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, recently launched an IBD Nutrition Navigator™”
This post includes a parent perspective on the IBD Nutrition Navigator and links to access the interactive tool.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in IBD
“In this post, ICN Registered Dietitians provide an overview of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), including information on what ARFID is (and is not), how it is diagnosed and treated, how prevalent it is and what better recognition of ARFID might mean for the pediatric IBD population. In collaboration with the ICN Social Workers & Psychologists group, ICN RDs share tips on what to do if you are concerned about ARFID.”
Jen Smith contributed this post as a member of the ICN Registered Dietitian group.Â
IGNITE - Bringing awareness to Very Early Onset IBD and helping other VEO families
“This is Tori's story about her son's Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease (VEO-IBD) diagnosis at just two years old. It's a story of misdiagnoses, frustrating dismissals, and the eventual discovery of a chronic condition that affects a growing number of very young children. More importantly, it's a story of resilience, hope, and the power of community. Enjoy Tori's powerful #IgniteTalk as she recalls the challenges and triumphs of raising a child with VEO-IBD and discovers how this journey has transformed her family and inspired them to advocate for others.”
Tori's #ignitetalk was originally posted to the blog in late 2024 and many folks have been inspired by her family's journey with Very Early Onset IBD in 2025.
Providing a sense of hope, knowledge, ideas, emotional/mental health support for other caregivers
“I get emotional thinking of this extraordinary project. My desire is that this resource will provide a sense of hope, knowledge, ideas, emotional/mental health support for other caregivers. No matter what stage of the journey they are in, this resource will help families navigate a complex diagnosis in partnership with their clinicians and families.”
Heidi is an IBD caregiver and contributor to the Caregiver Coping Resource, which was launched in 2025. In this post she shares reflections on co-creating this resource and a vision for how it can help caregivers of young people with IBD and/or Autoimmune Liver Disease (AILD).
My Gut Feelings: Living with Crohn's Disease
“I remember the relief and anxiety blending into one when there was finally a name for what I had. It meant there was an answer, but it also meant it was real and, as I was beginning to understand, a diagnosis I was going to have to learn to live with. I vaguely remember the look of concern on my parents’ faces. They understood what I would only later be old enough to comprehend. This was not temporary. This was forever.”
Get #InTheLOOP with Adrian's Crohn's diagnosis story.
Imperfect, and still OK - Nutrition is Trial and Error
“As an RD, of course I want all of my patients to eat fruits, vegetables, beans/legumes, and wholesome foods. However, eating isn’t a race for perfection even though there is pressure in our culture to eat optimally.”
ICN Registered Dietitian, Marta, reflects on working with patients with IBD and their families around establishing a balance between following dietary "best practices" while holding some space for kids and teens to learn and develop their own food autonomy through trial and error. This is post one of two.
Growing up with Crohn's disease is a big reason why I want to work in the medical field
“Growing up with Crohn's disease is a big reason why I want to work in the medical field one day. I discovered ImproveCareNow through my gastroenterologist after I asked how I could get more involved with GI-related studies.”
Get #InTheLOOP with Antonio's story about how life with Crohn's has influenced his plans for a future career in medicine.
Sometimes, you have to be brave
“Before taking this rather scary leap to a new role, I received a bracelet with Morse Code for “BRAVE.” It reminds me to do the scary thing and to feel confident knowing there’s a community to support me as I step onto the proverbial stage. I am so very grateful to serve in this role with you. I encourage us all to be brave and do the scary thing, because we can do it together.”
This is Becky Johnson Rescola's first post as ICN's new Executive Director.
ICN Research Explained: Perspectives on Contraception, Pregnancy, and Reproductive Health Counseling from Young Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
"Little is known about how young women with IBD make decisions about reproductive health topics, including birth control, pregnancy, and period symptoms, and about how they prefer to learn about these topics."
This summary of ICN research was co-created by researchers, patients and parents from the ICN Community.