Tara’s Story

I was fourteen when unexplained stomach pain changed everything. After being sent home multiple times from hospitals with what doctors thought was gastro, my symptoms worsened until I was admitted to hospital on July 7th, 2021. Two days later, I was diagnosed with pan-colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. My tests were triple checked as my inflammation levels in my stool samples were sitting at over 76,000.

Starting high school while learning to live with a chronic illness was isolating. I lost friendships, because people thought I was “weird “ and “attention seeking”. I stopped playing soccer and other sports due to fatigue and side effects from medications. I have tried countless treatments that brought little relief. I continue my journey now with vedolizumab infusions every eight weeks. In which I am currently in middle of talking about switching to try something else as this drug is also not working.

For a long time I felt angry and questioned why this happened to me. But now, nearing nineteen, I see how this experience shaped me. It showed me who would truly stand by my side, gave me a deeper appreciation for life’s small moments, and taught me that everyone is fighting their own battles we can’t all see.
I’m proud — not despite my illness, but because of the strength, resilience, and perspective it helped me build.