Own Your Crohn’s

Empowering the Chronically Ill & Disabled to Lead Fuller Lives

Coping with IBD & Stress & Anxiety Around COVID-19

Coping with IBD & Stress & Anxiety Around COVID-19

Last night I had the honor of doing a Facebook Live with Dr. Tiffany Taft (Psychogastroenterology, Northwestern University) and Amber Tresca (About IBD, IBD Moms) in conjunction with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. We discussed all the emotions around...
Patient Experiences with IBD Surgery

Patient Experiences with IBD Surgery

Last winter, my husband and caregiver, Anand, and I recorded a video with the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation on what it’s like to have surgery for Crohn’s & ulcerative colitis. We shared my experiences as a patient undergoing colorectal surgery and his...
World PTSD Day 2019:        The Faceless Woman

World PTSD Day 2019: The Faceless Woman

In honor of World PTSD Day today, I release a poem I wrote some weeks ago surrounding the medical trauma I’ve faced as a Crohn’s patient. This poem is not for the faint of heart so I will not be offended if you cannot read it. Post-traumatic stress is a term that’s...
I’m Chronically Ill & Depressed; So What?

I’m Chronically Ill & Depressed; So What?

You might be looking at this photo and thinking, “Oh, Tina looks like she’s having a great time enjoying beautiful weather in the park.” Can you tell an hour before this photo was taken, hubs struggled to get me to leave our home? Can you tell I had...
The Impact of IBD on Racial & Ethnic Minorities

The Impact of IBD on Racial & Ethnic Minorities

On Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019, in honor of National Minority Health Month, Dr. Aline Charabaty (Director of Johns Hopkins IBD Center), Brooke Abbott (Patient Advocate, Crazy Creole Mommy Chronicles) & I (Patient Advocate, Own Your Crohn’s) had the honor of...