I am 16 years old. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 13 in november of 2008. My mother also had Ulcerative colitis when she was 19 in '97. She had it for 10 years and had her colon removed. When I was diagnosed the Ulcerative Colitis was throughout my entire colon most likely because I had waited a month before I told  my mom that I was bleeding in my stool. I was put on about 15 pills a day including steroids. Thankfully my doctor took me off the steroids as soon as my cheeks began to get puffy. I was going in and out of the hospital all of november. I was admitted some time in december because I had these "knots" on the side of my face close to my ear that were giving me a lot of pain and was misdiagnosed as TMJ. The knot was only on one side of my face. Because of the pain from this my UC was beginning to get worse. On top of this, while my GI was out of town another doctor perscribed me the wrong medication that was ment for patients with UC in remission (mine was far fromt that). My colon begane to expand. On dec 29th I was rushed to emergancy surgery to have a total colectomy (microscopicly)  because the doctors feared that my colon may burst. When I came out of surgery I had drainage tubes in and the surgeans came by to check the fluid that was putting out and it looked like stool. I was then rushed back into emergency surgery in fear that there might be a leakage of stool. Afterwards, with 15 staples in my stomach, the surgeon sat by my bedside and said "everything is perfect". As a work of God there was nothing found wrong. To this day surgeons guess on what they believe might have happened. Even though it seemed my problem was now gone...no colon no problem? well not exactly. I was not released until Feb. I was having trouble keeping food down, fevers of 104 and fluid build up near my liver and spleen. The PAINFUL knot on the side of my face turned out to be that my siliva glands were infected and i had to have it surgically drained however ended up with another knot on the other side of my face. Doctors were so confused with what was going on with me. It seemed a new problem appeared every day. I spent chrismas and new years in the hospital.

TODAY: I am a junior in high school and very healthy. My dream has always been to be a pediatrition but now I want to be a pediatric gastrologist and attend Emory University. I have helped a total of 5 teens get through their IBD (Chrons and Colitis). I am involved in CCFA Fundraiser for a cure for Chrons and Colitis. I am registered under the Emory Bowl Brigade team (Dr. Subra Kugathasan). I am camper at Camp Oasis (camp for Chrons and Colitis patients) and a year away from being a councilor there. I share my story with anyone who is in need or willing to listen. Even though I have been through a lot with this disease I use it to help others. Ulcerative Colitis has become a big part of my life. God makes no mistakes.