At the young age of twelve, I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis - an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease. As if being a pre-teen wasn’t awkward enough, I quickly experienced extreme weight loss, malnutrition, dehydration, uncontrollable bowel movements, chronic fatigue, muscle weakness and joint pain to name just a few symptoms. I also experienced anxiety, depression, loss of control, loss of my lifestyle, (almost my life- entirely), and certainly my will to live.

I was immediately put on every drug trial out there and nothing seemed to work. At the age of sixteen I underwent three majorly invasive surgeries for a full colectomy (to remove my entire colon). Although doctors told me I was now cured, I was then suffering from intense surgical complications and it didn’t take long to notice that this disease was still alive and active in my body.

After five more years of suffering, confusion, and no answers, I had my fourth surgery where they removed a portion of my small intestine due to adhesions suffocating my bowel and causing obstructions. Following this surgery I officially approached my adulthood and began thinking differently, thinking for myself.

I decided to take my health into my own hands so I began a long process of trial and error with my diet - which amazingly enough was something no one else had considered before - along with research on alternative holistic medicines and at-home remedies. Soon enough, I had made it my passion and mission to try everything I possibly could. That is when I fell in love with my self-care process and road to wisdom.

Today, I understand my holistic-self better than ever before, but the practice will never be over. I evolve with my mind, body and spirit as needed with consistent changes in my goals, insights and experiments. My diet is a large part of this evolving process as I have learned that my body presents different needs at different times. I have learned what does & doesn’t work, how to use my resources, how to use food as medicine and still enjoy it’s taste, and most of all… how to trust my gut.

Over the past twenty years of this journey to greater health & greater life, I have had many friends, family and even strangers reach out to me for help with their own concerns and conditions. In 2015, I began an on-going Crohn’s & Colitis awareness and education campaign called Guts Get Graphic, which stemmed from my senior thesis piece in college. This is how I naturally found out that I not only love doing this work on myself, but for educating others as well. A pure and true extension of who I am and what motivates me.

Research, problem solving, trial & error, learning through experience, teaching, holding space, and healing are amongst my greatest strengths, passions and practices.

Join me in creating a better life. Trust your gut.

@trustyourgut_nutrition