As a Crohn’s disease patient with a permanent ostomy and severe fistulizing disease, I often look to music for solace. Listening to soulful music isn’t just soothing; it helps me cope, process and move past the never-ending laundry list of health issues I face. One song that hit home the second I heard it was “No Scars to Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara, and it has been on repeat ever since. It goes: You should know you’re beautiful just the way you are, And you don’t have to change a thing, the world could change its heart, No scars to your beautiful, we’re stars and we’re beautiful… What do these…
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Welcome to “Own Your Crohn’s”
Dear reader, My name is Tina, and my struggle with Crohn’s disease began over 12 years ago when I was 22. I am from the New York City area, and my background is in legal and compliance for investment banking. My battle with this beast of a disease rendered me unable to work. I have been nonetheless actively involved with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation as one of the leaders of the NYC Women’s IBD Support Group, through which I help to educate and advocate for women like myself who are struggling with the most debilitating aspects of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). (Courtesy of Tina Aswani Omprakash) My struggle with Crohn’s derailed my career, my…