My life with Crohn's disease | Rachel Thomas | TEDxWellington

At the age of 16, Rachel was told she had Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disease which causes ulcers in the digestive tract. By 28, her medication was no longer working. She was losing the Game of Crohn's.
She underwent major surgeries to have a stoma formed, which left her with a bag on her stomach. While about 100,000 people in the US alone have this surgery each year, there are still huge stigmas around stomas. But as she found out, her semicolon enabled freedom and confidence she never thought was possible. Rachel Thomas is originally from Katikati and has been a Wellingtonian since 2016, where she works as a senior health journalist at The Post. When she isn’t doing that she is riding motorbikes, spending time in or around the sea or wandering the aisles of Bunnings Warehouse. At the age of 16 she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, then at the age of 28 underwent major surgery which left her with a ‘barbie butt’. Rachel will be delving into her semi-colon story, the intricacies of serious inflammatory bowel disease and invisible illness and explain why a bag on her stomach opened up a world of confidence she never thought was possible. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@Gaetano.94]

You are very brave. I had a temporary ileostomy after going septic from my first surgery. Thank you so much for showing more light on people like us. ;

[@strigoviro5785]

What an incredibly brave, resilient, authentic woman you are! Fantastic and honest presentation.

[@Rachoojoy]

Thanks so much for watching and your kind words!

[@kirsafrancis2032]

Thank you for sharing this! As someone who is facing the probability of the same fate in the future after being recently diagnosed with severe Crohn's you are very inspiring. So thank you x

[@Rachoojoy]

So sorry to hear you're dealing with this, glad this reached you ❤

[@jobaguley9579]

My 21 year old daughter was also diagnosed at 17 - running out of drugs that work - so, thank you so much for sharing your experience - we are working through the possibility of surgery emotionally atm

[@mottovation3231]

Beautifully told.

[@brightspirit1]

Great TED talk!

[@jodiannlovett9161]

Bravo

[@Ankushtreanding]

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