awareness – Own Your Crohn's

acceptance, advocacy, awareness, Black Lives Matter, Disability Justice, Healthcare Disparities, Minority Health

Step in Our Shoes: A Discussion on Being an Ally to the Black Community

June 20, 2020

Earlier this month, I moderated a live discussion for Savvy Co-op on all things around the racism, injustice, inequality that Black Americans face. The advocates involved included Tonya Hegamin (Author, Professor, Type 1 Diabetes/LGBTQIA+ advocate), Erron Maxey (international basketball player, ESL teacher, Crohn’s Disease advocate) & Larry Turner (former Lakers basketball player, coach & international basketball player). They each brought very unique perspectives and shared experiences that taught us all how to be more mindful of the discrimination that Black Americans face on a regular basis. To learn more on how to become an ally to the Black community and start having brave conversations that incite, check out our discussion…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

As a Chronically-Ill Brown Woman, Here’s Why I Share My Survival Story
May 16, 2019

My Ostomy, My Lifesaver
October 3, 2019

My 9/11 Story: Paying Kindness Forward
September 11, 2019
acceptance, advocacy, awareness, Crohn's, Dating & Relationships, living with IBD, Ostomy, Self-image, stigma

A Valentine’s Day Special: Dating & Relationships with an Ostomy

February 25, 2020

A couple weeks ago, Amber Wallace Ogle of Ostomy Diaries and I did a Facebook Live in conjunction with Hollister Incorporated regarding dating, relationships and intimacy with an ostomy. Yes, folks, it is possible and that’s what Amber and I aimed to share–our stories of happiness and heartbreak and how we found lasting love and continue to thrive in our relationships while we live with permanent ostomies. Feel free to check out the video below. Enjoy! So, own your Crohn’s, own your ostomy, and take charge of your relationships and remember that our ostomies are not a flaw. They make us whole again and help us survive what we may…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

Metamorphosis
August 13, 2018

All of these exceptional women have won awards this year for their public advocacy efforts
October 16, 2018

An IBS Journey: Tina
April 21, 2019
acceptance, advocacy, awareness, Body Positivity, Colorectal Surgery, Crohn's, Dating & Relationships, Gratitude, living with IBD, Ostomy, Ostomy Awareness Day, Self-image, stigma, Ulcerative Colitis

Ostomy Awareness Day: Empowering Ostomates to Live Fuller Lives

November 22, 2019

Last month, Amber Wallace Ogle of Ostomy Diaries & I got together with Hollister, Inc. (a major ostomy manufacturer) to bring our audiences a discussion on how to lead a fuller life with an ostomy. Our aim was to engage viewers from around the world who may be struggling with self-image, body image, family life and relationships with an ostomy. And it was a grand success! We reached nearly 1,500 viewers from over 46 countries and from the feedback received, it was a video that helped many. Here’s to many more conversations like this where we can help ostomates feel less like outcasts and more like the beautiful human beings…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

OYC Trailblazers: What Healing Means to Natasha
March 26, 2019

Step in Our Shoes: A Discussion on Being an Ally to the Black Community
June 20, 2020

OstomyConnection SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Harikesh Buch works to shatter stigma and improve post-surgery care for ostomates in India.
January 24, 2019
Ableism, acceptance, advocacy, awareness, Body Positivity, colorectal cancer, Colorectal Surgery, coping with flares, Crohn's, living with IBD, Ostomy, Ostomy Awareness Day, Self-image, stigma, Ulcerative Colitis

The Beauty of Ostomates Worldwide

October 17, 2019

Happy #OstomyOctober, everyone! After doing a piece about things we can do with an ostomy last year, it only seemed appropriate this year to highlight how diverse the population living with all types of ostomies is. Just to backtrack, many of you might be wondering what an ostomy is. According to the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA), “ostomy surgery is a life-saving procedure that allows bodily waste to pass through a surgically created stoma on the abdomen into a prosthetic known as a ‘pouch’ or ‘ostomy bag’ on the outside of the body.” There are generally three types of ostomies: (1) colostomy, (2) ileostomy and (3) urostomy. A colostomy takes a resected…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

The Other Side of Crohn’s: Caregiving
December 9, 2019

Inspire’s #KeepUsAllSafe COVID-19 Campaign
April 12, 2020

What IBD Awareness Means to a South Asian American Woman with Crohn’s
June 17, 2020
advocacy, awareness, Crohn's, Lobbying, patient rights, Ulcerative Colitis

Summer of Activism: IBD Advocates You Should Follow on Social Media

August 7, 2019

Originally published by Amber Tresca on August 6th, 2019: http://aboutibd.com/2019/08/06/summer-of-activism-ibd-advocates-you-should-follow-on-social-media/ Improving the quality of life for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) takes commitment and focus to understanding the issues affecting patients and caregivers. Real change means engaging with all stakeholders, including physicians, industry, and government, as well as patients and caregivers. A future that includes more effective treatments and compassionate care for those touched by IBD will only happen when those who have the best interests of patients at heart take their seat at the table. There are many activists in the IBD community that are doing this hard work and you can strengthen their achievements by amplifying their…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

Weekend Long IBD Retreat Helped Me to Own My Crohn’s
August 24, 2019

12 News to Your Health IBD Segment
June 23, 2018

OYC Trailblazers: Celebrating Melissa’s J-Pouch-versary
February 25, 2019
advocacy, awareness, Clinical Trials, living with IBD

My Feature for Clinical Trial Awareness with Parexel

June 1, 2019

Honored to represent the clinical trial community within the Crohn’s Disease space for Parexel! Clinical trials are an important way for new medications to be tested and approved for use to provide quality of life, hope and happiness to those who suffer from chronic illnesses. Please take a moment to read my clinical trial story below and share: For every share of my clinical trial story, Parexel will donate funds to raise awareness for the importance of clinical research! #parexelwithheart So, own your Crohn’s, own your chronic illness, and spread love, light and hope to your community by considering clinical trials in your care. Originally published via Parexel on 5/28/2019:…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

~OYC Trailblazers~ Mollie’s Story: Living la Vida Latina with Ulcerative Colitis & an Ostomy
September 27, 2019

HealtheVoices 10-Year Anniversary (A Reminder of Why We Advocate)
October 19, 2024

Tips for Telehealth and Managing Your IBD Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 18, 2020
advocacy, awareness, colorectal cancer, Colorectal Surgery, Crohn's, Fistulizing Disease, living with IBD, Mental Health, Ostomy, stigma, Ulcerative Colitis

The Top 10 IBD Blogs to Follow in 2019

March 15, 2019

Discussing bowel movements is undoubtedly a taboo subject for many people, which has helped a stigma form around Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). For people living with IBD, most commonly in the form of Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, ‘embarrassment’, ‘shame’, and ‘isolation’ are regularly used words to describe the emotional strain that accompanies the physical symptoms of their condition. These bloggers, each excelling in particular areas, write openly and honestly about the realities of life with IBD. In doing so, they are helping create a community that offers support, raise awareness that helps tackle the stigma, and provide practical tips for various walks of life. Top IBD Blogs for Real…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

My Pelvic Pain Story
October 26, 2018

My Perianal Disease Feature at Crohn’s & Colitis Congress 2019
March 2, 2019

As a Chronically-Ill Brown Woman, Here’s Why I Share My Survival Story
May 16, 2019
advocacy, awareness, coping with flares, Crohn's, Holiday Season, living with IBD, Traveling with IBD, Ulcerative Colitis

The Value of Awareness & Advocacy During the Holidays

December 21, 2018

The holiday season is a wonderful time to celebrate all the blessings in our lives. It is a time to reflect on a year that has passed and our resolutions for the upcoming new year. But it is also a time that can be difficult for many of us with chronic illnesses, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). And this is where the importance of awareness and advocacy of our conditions come into the picture. As joyous of a time that the holidays are, many of us struggle to keep up with the shopping, the eating, the drinking, the travel and all the social merriment of the holiday season. Oftentimes,…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

IBD Awareness Week Line-Up: Diversity, Mental Health & More!
December 1, 2018

Immunocompromised in the Age of Coronavirus
May 1, 2020

A Day on the Hill: Putting a Face on IBD Legislation
May 26, 2018
advocacy, awareness, coping with flares, Crohn's, living with IBD, Ostomy, stigma, Ulcerative Colitis

6 Myths About IBD in Minority Patients, Busted

December 20, 2018

Here are the most common misconceptions surrounding Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis in minority populations. By Brianna Majsiak Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis (UC) are not easy conditions to talk about. But an even rarer topic of conversation is how minority patients are affected by these chronic and debilitating diseases. Although IBD has predominantly affected whites in the past, a study published in August 2016 in the journal Inflammatory Bowel Disease found an increase in the rate of IBD in minority groups in the United States over the past two decades. “Patients may be reluctant to identify as having ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, so our current numbers may really underrepresent these minority groups,”…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

COVID-19 Survivors: Stories of Hope in the IBD World
May 7, 2020

Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week: Minorities, Mental Health & IBD
December 9, 2018

J-Pouch Failure – Tina’s Story
June 15, 2019
awareness, caregivers, Crohn's, living with IBD, Ulcerative Colitis

Caregivers: The Greatest Blessing of All

December 7, 2018

As we wrap up Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week, I reflect on the greatest blessing of all in my IBD journey: my caregivers, my dear mother and husband. From the constant rides into the city for doctors’ visits to packing wounds and changing PICC line dressings while helping me walk and shower after surgery, Mom, you picked me up when I was at my lowest points in life. From driving me to Cleveland Clinic and flying me to Mayo Clinic for surgery while spending countless sleepless nights in the hospital, Anand, you stood by my side when society told you you could have done better. Many of our IBD journeys…

Read More

Tina Aswani Omprakash

Related Posts

OYC Trailblazers: Celebrating Melissa’s J-Pouch-versary
February 25, 2019

The Value of Support Groups
August 26, 2018

Accepting My Crohn’s Disease to Finally Become Me
January 15, 2024