From Patient to Future Physician: Finding Strength Through IBD
Being diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a teenager changed the course of Abbie's life in ways she never expected. What followed were years of challenges, setbacks, and difficult lessons, but also incredible growth, resilience, and a passion for helping others.
"Since my Crohn’s diagnosis, I have faced more challenges than I ever imagined; failed treatments, hospitalizations, sepsis, and learning how to navigate life with Crohn’s disease. Through every setback, I have learned how to manage my symptoms, make the best of difficult situations, and continue moving forward even on the hardest days."
A past AbbVie IBD Scholarship recipient, she is now entering her final year of Biological Sciences at the University of Guelph with plans to pursue a career in medicine. Her experiences as a patient have inspired her goal of helping others navigate their own healthcare journeys.
Living with Crohn’s has affected more than her physical health. Like many young people with chronic illness, Abbie has faced burnout, depression, and the emotional weight of managing a disease that can be unpredictable and exhausting. Through those challenges, she has discovered the importance of community and leaning on the people who support her through both the highs and lows.
Writing poetry and sharing her story have become important coping tools, helping her process her experiences and connect with others who understand the realities of life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Abbie also credits her parents for being her strongest advocates, standing beside her through hospital stays, appointments, treatments, and the many obstacles that come with a chronic illness.
As she looks toward the future, she hopes others living with IBD know they do not have to face it alone. Finding a community that understands can make all the difference.
One of the greatest lessons her journey has taught her is the strength she carries within herself.
"I learned how resilient and strong I am. I never knew that my life would change so drastically at 16, but honestly living with this illness had made me so much stronger.
I have learned how to use my voice and drive to become the best possible advocate I can be for my future patients."
This International Youth Day, Abbie’s story is a reminder that young people living with Crohn's or colitis are more than their diagnosis. They are students, leaders, advocates, and changemakers whose experiences can inspire hope for others facing similar challenges.