“Keep your face toward the sun, and the shadows will fall behind you!” Tyler’s story
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020 when I was 18, but it had been affecting me long before then. For the best part of 18 months, I was becoming increasingly unwell and was going back and forth to GPs, with no real answers in sight. It wasn’t until Boxing Day 2020, when I was so sick I couldn’t leave the house or do everyday tasks, that I was finally taken to emergency.
At first, I had no idea what ulcerative colitis was. But the fact that I had lost 20 kg and become anaemic told me it was pretty severe. After my diagnosis, I felt like there was no way out. I trialled different treatments until I finally reached remission on Vedolizumab. The recovery process was incredibly isolating and made it extremely hard to kick-start life after high school (not to mention the fact that it ruined my final years of school), but it taught me a lot.
Fast forward to now — I’ve been in remission without relapse for three years, and I’ve graduated from university, which led me to landing a dream job in sport! Going from thinking my life was over to living a life I’m proud of is an achievement that I’ll always cherish. It’s been a long journey, but I know it isn’t over. I’m so thankful to have all the right tools and the best support system to help me navigate this disease.
If I could go back and talk to 18-year-old me — or anyone facing their first diagnosis — I’d say that this isn’t the end, and it doesn’t mean your life is ruined. You’re still the same person you were yesterday, and you’ll be the same person tomorrow. Keep your face toward the sun, and the shadows will fall behind you!