I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 15 years ago whilst I was in a school – my symptoms were urgency, around 16 times a day, blood, mucous, pain, anaemia, bloating, gas and more.

The doctor kept telling me it was IBS and sending me away so over the next 6 months my health deteriorated very badly and I eventually after some blood tests, I was rushed in to the hospital to have 2 blood transfusions and after a endoscopy and colonoscopy, i was diagnosed with severe UC.

The doctor at the time said it was one of the worst cases she had ever seen in a young person before.

I was put on mesalazine, highway dosage of steriod and also immunosuppressants (azathioprine).



Over the years I was flaring on and off quite often but in denial for many years and trying to keep up with all my friends – drinking, eating out, working super hard and just relying on whatever medication they would prescribe me next…


At the end of my university degree, I had a very bad flare where I nearly lost my colon but managed to claw my way into remission with a very strong immunosuppressant- 6MP.

Although it used to make me feel so unwell at times, I managed to stay in remission on this for 2-3 years and started to travel and really build my life again.

Unfortunately, after that I contracted CMV virus and sepsis and was taken off them which threw me into another flare.



Since then I had a fear of the side effects or medications and tried to embark on a more holistic journey but due to my lack of knowledge and understanding- this grew into very restrictive and phobia led food habits.


With a fear of food and medications – I was reliant on enemas and suppositories to keep me going but painful and only masking fault symptoms….


Which brings me to this year…


I had been flaring on and off since last feb – hospitalised twice – remission for the odd month or so and then no relief again – ended up with full pancolitis and so told I had exhausted all drugs, all biologics, I had tried all diets and fads to try and cure it and this time I had to remove my bowel.


I refused and continued to pray. I discharged myself from the hospital against the doctors advice (probably not wise at the time but I was convicted at the time by my faith – as I’m a Christian), raised the funds online (over 100 people donated to help me) and i am now in full clinical remission. The ‘uncontrollable bleeding’ that they couldn’t manage with Stelara infusions, 4 weeks of intravenous steroids and a very strict diet and within 2 weeks of this plan the bleeding had stopped  I’m now a support specialist to talk to and help others with IBD