Ever since my ulcerative colitis diagnosis in 2014, I get so pumped every May! May 19th is World IBD Day and May 18th – 21st is Digestive Disease Week! I love customizing blog and social media content around the specifics of my IBD journey during these awareness days.
In this year’s World IBD Day post, I’m going to share why I’m passionate about spreading awareness for an invisible disease this day and every day of the year.
Living with an Invisible Disease
The theme for this year’s World IBD Day is “Making the invisible visible.”
I appreciate this theme because ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease truly are invisible diseases. There is so much more at play than some inflamed bowels.
For example, take a gander at these photos of me.
I bet you can easily tell in which one I’m flaring! The hospital one right?
You may have guessed it: This is a trick question!
I’m actually in the same flare in both of these photos! In fact, the picture on the right was taken just two weeks before the one on the left.
See how sneaky IBD can be?
Everyone’s Fighting Some Kind of Battle
I share this story as a gentle reminder to be kind to the people you pass on the street.
Be kind to the woman flustered at the checkout line, running her credit card as it gets denied and she fumbles around for another card.
Be kind to the frustratingly slow driver ahead of you. Maybe he just moved across the country and he’s new to the town, disoriented, and late to his appointment because his phone’s GPS lost signal.
Be kind to the person ahead of you at the pharmacy who’s in the midst of a long and confusing conversation with the pharmacist about why their insurance refuses to cover their medication.
Everyone is fighting some kind of battle. For some people, it’s an invisible illness. For others, it’s something entirely different. Let’s learn to slow down, breathe, and work on our patience.
What’s Your Story?
Do you have IBD or another invisible illness? Do you share your story on a blog or social media site? If so, drop your link in the comments!
Or, go ahead and follow me on Instagram @thecomicalcolon for more content!
Let’s make connections this awareness week. When it comes down to it, we’re all in this together.
And remember friends,
AWARENESS > FUNDING > RESEARCH > CURES