One of the areas of this website that I’ve always wanted to grow is our written word. I believe we do a good job of producing quality IBD videos with The IBD Round Table Discussion and our One-On-One IBD interviews, but the written word is just as important to me. While my own IBD experiences are primarily centered around Crohn’s Disease and being a caregiver to my son, I wanted our written word to be just as all encompassing of Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis as our videos are. So I brought together four great IBD advocates, that I believe, will help The Crohn’s Colitis Effect achieve it’s mission of making Inflammatory Bowel Disease a household name.

It is with great honor and privilege that I get to announce our new IBD blogging team here at The Crohn’s Colitis Effect!  Please welcome…..

Marisa Lauren Troy – I am a 27 year old girl who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 13, and since had 14 major operations. I have been in and out of the hospital due to many complications, blockages, and usual UC symptoms.

Until about two years ago, I kept everything inside. My parents were the only ones who knew what I had been through and have/had to deal with each day.

Thanks to some wonderful friends, I have been able to finally open up and share who I am with the world. I see how important it is, if not necessary, to go through this journey with a support system. I understand how difficult it is to open up, but also in hindsight now see how truly devastating is was/is for me to have kept it all inside for 12 years. I want to help those who are suffering, and let people know that they are not alone.

Marisa will be posting a new article on the 4th Wednesday of every month

Stephen Dempster – Crohn’s Disease survivor, IBD advocate, blogger and creator of “The 5-M Theory.”  Armed with a disturbingly warped sense of humor, an insatiable curiosity and absolutely no sense of shame, I endeavor to shine a big f@#k-off light on the world of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – helping all those who have been afflicted with this much misunderstood condition.  And in other unrelated news – I look freekin’ awesome in a kilt 🙂

Stephen will be posting a new article on the 2nd Wednesday of every month

Justin Thibert – I have been a Crohn’s patient since 1997. At the time, it didn’t seem like a lot was known about IBD. Since then, I have hated, accepted, and most recently embraced having the disease. In 2003 I had my only surgery and had 10 inches of bowel removed. Starting in 2013, I have been more active in promoting awareness and being involved in the community. Before that, I had long accepted my limits but I was not living a well balanced life. Opening up and discussing IBD with other patients helped me to be more comfortable with the disease and more comfortable with myself.

I currently live in Toronto, Ontario and have been here for 4 years. When I am not active in the IBD community, I work as an analyst for a bank, find myself watching a lot of movies, and trying to be active.

Justin will be posting a new article on the 3rd Wednesday of every month

Cheryl Hentz – I never thought that one day a doctor was going to tell me that my child has a disease without a cure. That day was in May 2008. I had no idea what Crohn’s disease was and my world changed in that instant. Even though I am not the one with IBD, it is part of my everyday life. So I began my quest to learn more about it. Through these years, I have learned quite a bit about IBD. I don’t know it all, but I keep an open mind and I keep learning. My journey has evolved to a place where I want to spread awareness about what IBD is and isn’t. I also want to be a voice for those who are not ready to share their own stories. We are all in this together and I want people to know that I understand.

Cheryl will be posting a new article on the 1st Wednesday of every month